If you look around in Pakistan today in classrooms, coaching centers, and even small tea shops — you’ll find something interesting: students watching lectures on cheap laptops, freelancers working late nights with patchy Wi‑Fi, and young people in villages running YouTube channels right from their courtyards.
Ten years ago, this wasn’t common. But things have changed because of something many people ignore: laptop & internet package schemes launched by governments, universities, and telecom companies. They didn’t solve every problem, but they quietly opened doors for thousands of students, freelancers, and young entrepreneurs.
Let’s talk honestly about what these schemes are, how they work, and why they matter more than ever.
Why do students need laptop schemes?
Ask any university student in Karachi, Multan, or Peshawar, and you’ll hear similar stories:
- Borrowing an old family computer to type assignments
- Going to crowded internet cafés to prepare slides
- Spending hours at a friend’s house just to check emails
In a world where everything is digital from online classes to freelancing not having your own laptop puts you at a big disadvantage. It’s not just about fancy devices; it’s about equal opportunity.
That’s why laptop schemes started popping up: to help students catch up and compete globally.
What are these schemes?
They usually fall into two main categories:
Laptop distribution programs
For example:
- Punjab government’s Shahbaz Sharif Laptop Scheme
- Federal government’s PM Youth Laptop Scheme
- Some universities (like COMSATS, NUST, GIKI) also run their own limited programs for top students
Students apply, sometimes go through merit lists, and if selected, get a laptop — often a decent mid‑range model good enough for coding, design, or online classes.
Discounted internet packages
Mostly offered by telecom companies, especially for students:
- Monthly 40‑50 GB packages at cheaper rates
- Late‑night bundles for study or freelancing
- Special offers during exam seasons or Ramadan
Together, a free or cheap laptop + affordable internet can change someone’s life.
Real stories, real impact
You can visit small towns in South Punjab or Sindh and see young people doing real work:
- Adeel, a student in Rahim Yar Khan, got a laptop through the Punjab scheme and now earns as a graphic designer on Fiverr
- Mehwish, an IT student in Quetta, uses a student internet package to attend online bootcamps and webinars
- Saad, in Swat, built a YouTube channel teaching basic programming all filmed on a laptop camera and uploaded through a shared Wi‑Fi package
These aren’t “hero” stories; they’re normal stories. But that’s the point: the schemes make it possible for normal students to do something extra.
Why are these schemes still relevant in 2025?
Because the digital divide is still huge. Urban students often have better devices and fast broadband; rural and low‑income students still struggle.
Freelancing, remote jobs, and online businesses are growing. Pakistan is already one of the top freelancing countries, but to stay competitive, young people need tools especially laptops powerful enough for design, coding, or data analysis, and reliable internet.
Who can apply?
Mostly:
Enrolled university or college students (public universities preferred)
Sometimes top performers only, sometimes need‑based quotas
Pakistani citizens, usually age 18‑30
For internet packages, anyone with a student SIM or proof of university enrollment can usually subscribe.
Small tips if you want to benefit:
- Watch official websites: pmyp.gov.pk, youth.punjab.gov.pk
- Keep documents ready: CNIC, transcripts, university ID
- Avoid middlemen: application is always free
- For internet, check each telecom’s app; sometimes discounts don’t appear on normal menus
Challenges and criticism
It’s true:
- Some students sell laptops in the market
- Internet bundles still don’t reach areas with weak network
- Not all schemes cover students of private universities or technical institutes
But even with these flaws, thousands genuinely benefit. For every student who misuses, there’s another who builds a freelance career, studies late at night, or learns a new skill.
Looking ahead
In the next few years, there’s talk of:
- Expanding schemes to diploma students and madrassa students who learn modern skills
- Bundling laptops with online training or freelancing workshops
- Even giving small tablets to school kids in remote areas
- 5G-based student packages with faster speeds for video editing or coding
Why this matters for families
When a student in the family has a laptop and good internet, it doesn’t just help them. Siblings watch lectures, mothers learn cooking videos or online Quran, and sometimes fathers use it to track market prices or news. One device quietly changes an entire household.
Final words
People often say: “Laptop and internet? Isn’t that a luxury?”
But in 2025, it’s not luxury. It’s a necessity.
It helps an arts student in Bahawalpur sell calligraphy online, a girl in Gilgit join a remote coding internship, and a young man in Khairpur start a dropshipping store.
These schemes aren’t perfect. But they prove one small truth: sometimes, the difference between “I can’t” and “I did” is just a working laptop and a stable internet connection.
If you’d like honest guides, updates on new schemes, and real tips from real people: Visit TeezJobs.com your place for student opportunities, jobs, and skill news.
