Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally launched a new nationwide student device programme on Sunday, 25 October 2026, in Islamabad: the Prime Minister’s Youth Chromebook Scheme, under which the government plans to distribute 500,000 Chromebooks to students across Pakistan over the next two years. The devices will come with MiFi internet devices, and selected students will also receive bags.
The announcement matters because it is the first large federal student-device scheme since the earlier laptop programmes, which distributed around 600,000 laptops over roughly a decade. This time the government says it wants to complete the much bigger rollout in just two years — and selection will be strictly on merit, regardless of a student’s financial background.
One important caution up front: no registration portal, application form, or district-wise schedule has been announced yet. The launch announced the scheme and its scale — not an open application window. Any website or WhatsApp message claiming to register you for a free Chromebook right now is not official.
Quick Summary
| Scheme | Prime Minister’s Youth Chromebook Scheme |
| Launched | 25 October 2026, Islamabad |
| Devices | 500,000 Chromebooks over 2 years |
| Extras | MiFi internet device + bag for selected students |
| Selection | Strictly on merit — ability and hard work |
| Who is covered | Students of schools, colleges, universities and religious seminaries |
| Registration | Not announced yet — no official portal or form so far |
| Partner | Tokyo Technology Care Foundation (TTCF) |
What Was Announced on 25 October
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Islamabad, organised under the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Shehbaz Sharif said equipping young people with modern technology was a fundamental responsibility of the government and a key step towards a knowledge-based Pakistan. He described students as the country’s greatest asset and said the devices would help them attend classes remotely, use e-libraries, build digital skills and compete internationally.
The headline numbers from the launch:
- 500,000 Chromebooks to be distributed nationwide within two years.
- MiFi internet devices bundled with the Chromebooks, so students can get online from home and use electronic libraries.
- Bags for selected students, announced at the ceremony.
- An estimated 2.5 million people expected to benefit indirectly, because the connectivity will also reach family members of the selected students.
The prime minister thanked the Tokyo Technology Care Foundation (TTCF) for partnering in the initiative. Banners visible at the ceremony described the devices as refurbished Chromebooks — the government has not yet published a detailed specification sheet, so treat the exact device models as unconfirmed until an official programme document appears.
Who Will Get a Chromebook?
According to the launch announcement, selection will be based on merit alone. The prime minister repeated the point several times: “intelligence and hard work should not be held captive by wealth and poverty,” and the devices will go to students on the basis of their ability.
The scheme is deliberately broad in coverage:
- School students — talented students from schools across the country.
- College and university students — including high achievers in higher education.
- Religious seminary students — the prime minister specifically said seminary students are included, noting that previous laptop schemes had also reached prominent seminaries.
He also pointed to students who had overcome hardship — including a student whose father had been martyred and a seminary student who spoke about her educational ambitions at the ceremony — as the kind of talent the scheme is meant to reach.
How Is This Different From the Old Laptop Scheme?
The earlier laptop programmes, launched under former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, distributed around 600,000 laptops on merit over approximately ten years, covering Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. The prime minister said that scheme proved its value during the Covid-19 pandemic, when students relied on devices to continue classes, and that many beneficiaries went on to become doctors, engineers and other professionals.
The new scheme differs in three ways:
- Speed: 500,000 devices in two years, against 600,000 in about ten years previously.
- Connectivity built in: every Chromebook comes with a MiFi internet device, not just the hardware.
- Device type: Chromebooks rather than conventional laptops — lighter, cloud-focused machines suited to online classes and e-libraries.
What Is NOT Announced Yet — Read This Before You Apply Anywhere
As of today, the government has announced the scheme, not the application process. The following have not been published:
- No official registration website or online form.
- No eligibility marks/percentage cutoff.
- No district-wise or institution-wise distribution schedule.
- No last date for applications — because applications have not opened.
This gap is exactly where scams grow. In past device schemes, fake forms circulated within days of the announcement, collecting students’ CNIC numbers, phone numbers and even “delivery fees.” Do not fill in any Chromebook registration form, and do not pay anyone any fee, until the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme or the government announces an official channel. This page will be updated when the official process is published.
What Students Should Do Now
- Keep your academic record ready — since selection is merit-based, your marks and enrolment status are likely to matter. Keep your student card and result documents safe.
- Follow only official channels — the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme announcements and national news coverage of the scheme.
- Ask your institution — colleges and universities usually receive distribution instructions first; your institution’s administration is a safer source than a viral post.
- Do not share your CNIC or pay any fee to any person or page promising a Chromebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Chromebooks will be distributed under the PM Youth Chromebook Scheme?
500,000 Chromebooks across Pakistan over two years, as announced on 25 October 2026.
Who is eligible for the free Chromebook?
Students selected strictly on merit, from schools, colleges, universities and religious seminaries. Detailed eligibility criteria have not been published yet.
Has registration for the Chromebook scheme started?
No. No official registration portal or application form has been announced as of 26 October 2026. Beware of fake forms.
Will students also get internet with the Chromebook?
Yes — selected students will receive a MiFi internet device along with the Chromebook, plus a bag, according to the launch announcement.
Are seminary students included?
Yes. The prime minister said students of religious seminaries are included, as they were in previous laptop schemes.
Is this the same as the old PM Laptop Scheme?
No — it is a new scheme. The old programme distributed around 600,000 laptops over about a decade; the new scheme aims for 500,000 Chromebooks in two years, with internet connectivity bundled in.
Bottom Line
The PM Youth Chromebook Scheme is real, freshly launched, and large — 500,000 devices in two years, on merit, with internet included. But it is at the announcement stage: the application process does not exist yet. The students who benefit most will be the ones who keep their records ready, ignore fake registration links, and watch for the official process. Bookmark this page — we will update it the day the official registration opens.
Disclaimer: This is an independent informational guide. We are not affiliated with the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme or the Government of Pakistan. Scheme details may change — verify on official government channels before acting. Sources: Dawn (25–26 October 2026), The Express Tribune, The Nation, Gulf News.
