Students Can Now Get 500,000 Chromebooks for Free

PM Shehbaz Sharif Launches 500,000 Free Chromebook Scheme for Students and Madaris Across Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially launched the long-awaited Prime Minister’s Youth Chromebook Scheme, aimed at expanding digital access for students in schools and religious seminaries (Madaris) across Pakistan. Under this initiative, the federal government will distribute 500,000 refurbished Chromebooks along with internet connectivity solutions over a three-year period.

This program builds upon previous student laptop distribution initiatives, extending merit-based digital awards directly to secondary-level school students and seminary scholars.

Program Overview & Key Governance Bodies

The scheme is jointly executed by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training in coordination with the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP).

To maintain transparency and streamline administration, student academic credentials will be verified through the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC). The central distribution workflow relies on an automated tracking mechanism:

• Devices will be dispatched directly to verified candidates via direct courier services.

• Centralized digital monitoring will log each delivery from dispatch to receipt.

• Grievance Redressal Committees are established at both Board and Provincial levels to resolve quota discrepancies, academic verification delays, or delivery issues.

Detailed Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the PM Youth Chromebook Scheme, applicants must fulfill the following mandatory criteria:

1. Academic Level: The scheme target group consists of high-scoring students enrolled in Grade 9 (SSC Part-I).

2. Minimum Academic Cut-off: Applicants must secure a minimum of 50% overall marks in their SSC-I board examination.

3. Institutional Eligibility:

   • Public sector schools operating under federal or provincial boards.

   • Private schools subsidized or registered under provincial education foundations (e.g., Punjab Education Foundation, Sindh Education Foundation).

   • Registered religious seminaries (Madaris) operating under recognized Wafaqs/educational boards.

Complete Breakdown: Quotas & Provincial Allocations

The federal government has structured the distribution through strict institutional, subject-stream, and geographic quotas to ensure equitable delivery across urban, rural, and regional centers.

1. Sector & Stream Quotas

• Institutional Split: Out of every 5 devices distributed in a region, 4 devices (80%) go to school students, while 1 device (20%) is allocated to registered seminary (Madrasa) students.

• Academic Discipline Split (Schools): Within the school quota, 70% of devices are designated for Science stream students, while 30% are reserved for Humanities/Arts stream students.

2. Province and Region-Wise Distribution

How to Apply: Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Verify Your Board Result: Ensure your 9th Class (SSC-I) official marksheet shows 50% or higher.

2. Access the Official Portal: Visit the official Prime Minister’s Youth Programme portal once registration opens for your respective board cycle.

3. Input Identity & Academic Data: Enter your CNIC/B-Form number, board roll number, school/madrasa registration code, and personal contact details.

4. IBCC Data Cross-Verification: The system automatically cross-references submitted details against the IBCC database.

5. Track Application Status: Use the assigned tracking code to monitor verification status, approval, and courier dispatch updates.

Comprehensive FAQs

Question: Who is eligible for the PM Youth Chromebook Scheme 2026?

Answer: Grade 9 (SSC Part-I) students from public schools, foundation-funded private schools, and registered Madaris who have obtained at least 50% marks in their SSC-I examinations are eligible to apply.

Question: How many Chromebooks are allocated to Punjab, Sindh, KPK, and Balochistan?

Answer: Punjab has been allocated 181,090 devices; Sindh gets 85,925; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa receives 51,170; and Balochistan receives 31,815 Chromebooks.

Question: Are college and university undergraduate students eligible for this scheme?

Answer: No, this specific scheme is targeted at secondary school (Grade 9) and seminary students. University students are covered under separate higher-education laptop schemes executed by the HEC and provincial governments.

Question: What is the subject stream ratio for the Chromebook allocation?

Answer: For school students, 70% of the allocated quota is reserved for Science students, while 30% is allocated to Arts and Humanities students.

Question: How will the Chromebooks be delivered to selected students?

Answer: Verified candidates will receive their devices directly via courier services to their registered addresses, monitored through a central digital tracking platform.