PM’s National Laptop Scheme 2023-24 How to Apply | Prime Minister’s Youth Program

Are you a student in Pakistan who wants to get a free laptop from the government? If yes, then you might be interested in the PM’s National Laptop Scheme 2023-24. This scheme is a part of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, which aims to provide laptops to talented and deserving students across the country. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about this scheme, including how to apply, eligibility criteria, selection process, and distribution schedule.

What is the PM’s National Laptop Scheme?

The PM’s National Laptop Scheme is a flagship initiative of the Government of Pakistan, launched in 2014, to distribute laptops among the students of public sector universities and degree awarding institutions. The scheme is designed to enhance the quality of education and research in Pakistan and to promote the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) among the youth. The scheme also aims to empower the students with modern tools and skills and to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas.

The scheme is funded by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, which is responsible for overseeing the implementation and monitoring of the scheme. The HEC has established a dedicated portal for the scheme, where students can register and update their profiles, check their eligibility status, and track their laptop delivery. The portal can be accessed at this link.

Who is eligible for the PM’s National Laptop Scheme?

The PM’s National Laptop Scheme is open to all students who are enrolled in public sector universities and degree awarding institutions in Pakistan. However, there are some specific eligibility criteria that the applicants must meet. These criteria are as follows:

• The applicant must be a Pakistani national or an AJK national.
• The applicant must have a valid CNIC or B-form number.
• The applicant must have a valid email address and mobile number.
• The applicant must be enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate program (including MS, MPhil, and PhD) in any discipline.
• The applicant must have secured at least 60% marks or 2.5 CGPA in the last annual or semester examination.
• The applicant must not have received a laptop from any other government or private scheme before.
• The applicant must not be employed in any public or private sector organization.

How to apply for the PM’s National Laptop Scheme?

The application process for the PM’s National Laptop Scheme is simple and online. The applicants do not need to submit any hard copies of their documents or visit any office. They need to follow these steps:

• Visit the official website of the PM’s National Laptop Scheme at www.pmnls.hec.gov.pk.
• Click on the “Registration” button on the homepage.
• Fill in the required personal information, such as your name, CNIC number, email address, mobile number, etc.
• Select your university name, campus name, department name, program name, etc.
• Provide your academic information, such as your last examination marks or CGPA, enrollment date, expected completion date, etc.
• Upload your recent passport size photograph, CNIC copy, and academic transcript or degree copy.
• Please review your application for any errors or omissions and submit it online.
• You will receive a confirmation email and SMS from the HEC with your application ID and password.
• You can use your application ID and password to log in to the portal and check your eligibility status, merit list position, laptop delivery status, etc.

What is the selection process for the PM’s National Laptop Scheme?

The selection process for the PM’s National Laptop Scheme is based on merit and transparency. The HEC has devised a formula to calculate the merit of each applicant based on their academic performance and program level. The formula is as follows:

• For undergraduate students: Merit = (Marks obtained / Total marks) x 100
• For postgraduate students: Merit = (CGPA / 4) x 100

The HEC then ranks all the applicants according to their merit scores and allocates a quota for each university and program based on their enrollment data. The quota is divided into two categories: provincial quota and federal quota. The provincial quota is further divided into four sub-categories: Punjab quota, Sindh quota, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa quota, and Balochistan quota. The federal quota is reserved for students from Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and Federal Urdu University.

The HEC publishes the merit lists of all the eligible applicants on its website and portal. The applicants can check their merit list position by logging in to their accounts on the portal. The HEC also sends an email and SMS notification to all the selected applicants with their laptop delivery details.

When will the laptops be distributed under the PM’s National Laptop Scheme?

The laptop distribution under the PM’s National Laptop Scheme is done in phases. The HEC has announced that the scheme will cover a total of 500,000 students in five phases, with 100,000 laptops per phase. The first phase of the scheme was completed in 2015, the second phase in 2016, the third phase in 2017, and the fourth phase in 2018. The fifth and final phase of the scheme is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

The laptop distribution is done through a ceremony at each university or campus, where the laptops are handed over to the students by the HEC officials, university officials, and government dignitaries. The students are required to bring their original CNIC, student ID card, and laptop delivery confirmation email or SMS to collect their laptops. The students are also required to sign an undertaking form stating that they will use the laptop for academic and research purposes only and that they will not sell or transfer the laptop to anyone else.

What are the features and specifications of the laptops under the PM’s National Laptop Scheme?

The laptops under the PM’s National Laptop Scheme are of high quality and standard and are equipped with the latest features and specifications. The laptops are manufactured by Haier, a leading Chinese electronics company, and are branded “Prime Minister’s Laptops.” The laptops have the following features and specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i3 (5th Generation) or Intel Core i5 (7th Generation)
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Storage: 500 GB HDD
• Display: 14-inch LED screen
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
• Operating System: Windows 10
• Battery: 6-cell Li-ion battery
• Webcam: HD webcam
• Wireless: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, RJ-45, and an audio jack are all available as ports.
• Optical Drive: DVD-RW
• Keyboard: Chiclet keyboard with numeric keypad
• Mouse: Touchpad with multi-touch gesture support
• Speakers: Stereo speakers with Dolby audio enhancement
• Warranty: One year warranty

The laptops also come with a laptop bag, a power adapter, a user manual, and a warranty card. The laptops are pre-installed with Microsoft Office 365, which is a cloud-based suite of productivity applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, etc. The students can access these applications online or offline and can also store their files on OneDrive, which is a cloud-based storage service. The students can also use Skype for Business, which is a communication tool that allows them to make voice and video calls, send instant messages, share screens, etc.

What are the benefits of the PM’s National Laptop Scheme?

The PM’s National Laptop Scheme is a great opportunity for the students of Pakistan to enhance their learning and research capabilities. The scheme has several benefits for the students, such as:

• The scheme provides free laptops to students who otherwise might need help to afford them.
• The scheme enables the students to access online courses, lectures, tutorials, books, journals, etc., from anywhere and anytime.
• The scheme helps the students to improve their ICT skills and knowledge, which are essential for the modern world.
• The scheme encourages the students to engage in innovative and creative projects, such as developing software applications, designing websites, creating digital content, etc.
• The scheme fosters a culture of research and development among the students and faculty members of the universities.
• The scheme promotes collaboration and networking among students and researchers from different universities and disciplines.
• The scheme contributes to the socio-economic development of Pakistan by producing skilled and competent human resources.

Conclusion

The PM’s National Laptop Scheme is a visionary and commendable initiative of the Government of Pakistan to empower the youth of Pakistan with modern tools and technologies. The scheme has benefited thousands of students across Pakistan who have received free laptops from the government. The scheme has also improved the quality of education and research in Pakistan by providing access to online resources and platforms. The scheme has created a positive impact on the academic performance and career prospects of the students who have received laptops under this scheme.

If you are a student who wants to apply for this scheme, you should visit www.pmnls.hec.gov.pk and register yourself online. You should also check your eligibility criteria and merit list position on the portal. It would be best if you also kept an eye on your email and SMS notifications from the HEC for your laptop delivery details. You should also be able to follow the instructions given by your university or campus for collecting your laptop.

We hope that this article has provided you with all the information you need about the PM’s National Laptop Scheme 2023-24. If you have any questions or feedback about this article or this scheme, please feel free to leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you.