PM Launches Free Chromebooks for 500,000 Students in Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally launched a scheme that could change how thousands of students study at home. Under the PM Youth Chromebook Scheme, 500,000 refurbished Chromebooks will be given to students of schools and madaris across Pakistan, along with internet access. The launch took place in Islamabad on 25 October 2026, and it follows an earlier announcement from the Prime Minister's Youth Programme earlier in the week.

For many families, this is not a small announcement. A laptop is still out of reach for a large number of students, and during the pandemic years many children shared a single phone just to attend a class. For a student who has never had a personal device, a Chromebook can make homework, research, and online classes far more practical.

What was launched

The PM Youth Chromebook Scheme is being run by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, together with the Prime Minister's Youth Programme. The 500,000 devices will be distributed over three years, rather than all at once, so selection will happen in stages.

It is also important to be clear about the devices themselves. These are refurbished Chromebooks, not brand new laptops. A Chromebook runs on ChromeOS and is built mainly for web based work, such as online classes, document writing, research, and assignments. For most school work, that is enough.

Who will get a Chromebook

The PM Youth Chromebook Scheme is aimed at high scoring students, not at every student. Students will be ranked on their SSC-I results, verified by the Inter Boards Coordination Commission, known as IBCC. Students need at least 50 percent marks, and selection will run within each province or region, board, and stream until the quota is exhausted.

Eligible students include those in public schools, students in private schools funded by provincial education foundations, and students in registered madaris. That is narrower than a general promise of a device for all students. Students in ordinary private schools not funded through a provincial education foundation are not covered by the criteria described at launch.

In each province, four out of five devices will go to school students and one to madaris students. Among school students, 70 percent of the quota is for science students and 30 percent for arts students. Madaris students will be vetted separately, with the Directorate General of Religious Education involved.

Before you submit anything, read how to apply for the PM Youth Chromebook Scheme in the detailed guide, so you can check your board record, documents, and the exact steps on the official portal. That guide also explains why class eligibility can differ by region, because in Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, Grade 10 students are also considered in some cases.

Province-wise quota

The PM Youth Chromebook Scheme total of 500,000 devices is divided by province and region as follows:

• Punjab: 181,090 devices
• Sindh: 85,925 devices
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 51,170 devices
• Balochistan: 31,815 devices
• Islamabad: 100,000 devices
• Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 25,000 devices
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 25,000 devices

Together, these figures add up to 500,000. Punjab has the largest share, while Islamabad has a notably large allocation of 100,000 devices. Selection still depends on merit within each board and stream.

What happens after selection

Once a student is verified, the device will be delivered directly by courier. Delivery will be tracked through a central monitoring system, and grievance committees will be set up at board and provincial levels to handle complaints.

That safeguard does not remove the need for care at the application stage. Students should only use the official IBCC portal, and they should not share their CNIC, B-Form, or academic documents with unknown websites or agents who promise a guaranteed Chromebook. No agent can guarantee selection.

FAQs

Is every student eligible for a free Chromebook?

No. The PM Youth Chromebook Scheme is for high scoring students who meet the board, school type, and marks criteria, including at least 50 percent in SSC-I. It is not open to every student in Pakistan.

Are the Chromebooks brand new?

No. The 500,000 devices announced are refurbished Chromebooks. They are intended for online classes, research, and school assignments on ChromeOS.

How will selected students receive their device?

Verified students will receive their device directly by courier, with delivery tracked through a central monitoring system. Complaints can be raised through grievance committees at board and provincial levels.

For students who qualify, the PM Youth Chromebook Scheme is a genuine opportunity, but it rewards results rather than applications alone. The best step now is simple: check your board record, confirm your marks and school type, follow only the official portal, and keep your documents ready.