PM Youth Chromebook Scheme: 500,000 free Chromebooks for students — who qualifies
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched a scheme to give 500,000 Chromebooks to high-scoring school and madrassa students over two years, selected on their SSC-I marks. Here is who qualifies and how many each province gets.
At a glance
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the Prime Minister's Youth Chromebook Scheme in Islamabad on Sunday, October 25, 2026, to give 500,000 Chromebooks to students over two years.
- Students are ranked on their SSC-I (Grade 9) results, verified by the Inter Boards Coordination Commission; a minimum of 50% marks is required.
- Public school students, students of private schools funded by provincial education foundations and students of registered madaris are eligible. In each province four in five devices go to school students and one to madrassa students.
- Of the school quota, 70% is reserved for science students and 30% for arts. Devices will be couriered to verified students and tracked centrally.
- Sharif said previous PML-N governments gave out about 600,000 laptops over a decade; the Chromebooks are the next step.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday, October 25, 2026, launched the Prime Minister's Youth Chromebook Scheme in Islamabad, under which 500,000 Chromebooks will be given free to high-achieving students over the next two years. Students from government schools, foundation-funded private schools and registered madaris will be selected on merit from their SSC-I (Grade 9) results, with at least 50% marks required.
What the scheme offers
The scheme is run by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training together with the Prime Minister's Youth Programme. The devices are refurbished Chromebooks, and the package is meant to give students both a computer and internet access so they can study online.
Selection rules announced at the launch:
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total devices | 500,000 |
| Period | Two years (as announced by the prime minister) |
| Basis of selection | Merit, using SSC-I (Grade 9) results verified by the IBCC |
| Minimum marks | 50% |
| Eligible students | Public schools; private schools funded by provincial education foundations; registered madaris |
| School vs madrassa split | In each province, 4 of every 5 devices to school students, 1 to madrassa students |
| Science vs arts (school quota) | 70% science, 30% arts |
| Delivery | By courier directly to verified students, tracked by a central monitoring system |
| Complaints | Grievance committees at board and provincial levels |
How many devices each region gets
The published allocation adds up to the full 500,000 devices:
| Province / region | Chromebooks |
|---|---|
| Punjab | 181,090 |
| Islamabad | 100,000 |
| Sindh | 85,925 |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 51,170 |
| Balochistan | 31,815 |
| Azad Jammu and Kashmir | 25,000 |
| Gilgit-Baltistan | 25,000 |
| Total | 500,000 |
What the prime minister said
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Sharif said the devices would be awarded on "ability and ability alone" and that talent should not depend on a family's wealth. He called giving young people modern technology a collective responsibility of the state, and said the Chromebooks would help students learn remotely and, later, find jobs.
He said previous PML-N governments had distributed about 600,000 laptops to university and college students over a decade, including students of major religious seminaries, and that the Daanish Schools were also open to seminary students.
Background
In August, on International Youth Day, Sharif announced that 250,000 high-achieving students would receive Chromebooks this year. The plan was then widened, and the government confirmed the 500,000 figure earlier this week before Sunday's formal launch.
Pakistan opened its first Google Chromebook assembly line last year. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar described it at the time as a foundation for jobs, supply chains and future technology exports. The laptop schemes run by PML-N governments since 2011 have been among the most popular youth programmes in the country, though critics have questioned their cost and whether the devices reach the students who need them most.
Reactions
Supporters of the scheme say including madrassa students and students from low-cost foundation schools is a step towards narrowing the digital gap between rich and poor families. Some critics argue that refurbished Chromebooks are a limited tool, and point out that millions of Pakistani children are still out of school and cannot benefit from a scheme based on Grade 9 results.
Why it matters
Most Pakistani students in government schools and madaris do not have their own computer, and many depend on shared mobile phones for online learning. A free device and internet access can help them use online courses, prepare for exams and learn basic digital skills that employers increasingly ask for. Linking selection to verified board results and courier delivery is meant to reduce favouritism and fraud, which have been concerns in earlier schemes.
What happens next
Students do not need to buy anything. The selection will be made from SSC-I results verified by the IBCC, and education boards and provincial departments are expected to publish lists of eligible students and details of the verification process. Students should watch their education board and the Prime Minister's Youth Programme for official announcements, and avoid unofficial websites or agents asking for fees — the scheme is free.
Questions people are asking
Who is eligible for the PM Chromebook scheme 2026?
Students of public schools, private schools funded by provincial education foundations and registered madaris who scored at least 50% in their SSC-I (Grade 9) exams are eligible. They are ranked on merit using results verified by the Inter Boards Coordination Commission.
How many Chromebooks will Punjab, Sindh and KP get?
Under the published allocation, Punjab gets 181,090, Sindh 85,925, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 51,170 and Balochistan 31,815 devices. Islamabad is allocated 100,000, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan 25,000 each.
Do students have to pay for the Chromebooks?
No. The Chromebooks are given free to students selected on merit, and the government says they will be delivered by courier directly to verified students.
