CHAKWAL: High achievers of Chakwal district received laptops under Punjab Chief Minister’s E-Youth Initiative here on Thursday.

1832 students received laptops with a ceremony held for 69 students at Government Degree College for Women, while 1763 students were asked to collect their laptops from Government Postgraduate College where eight collection counters were set up.

Speaking at the occasion the Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education MPA Mehvish Sultana said that Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was doing its best by arming students with the digital tools which would help them in achieving a prosperous future.

“The Chief Minister’s vision is to take students closer to the digital world”, she said.

The MPA added that last year laptops were only given to college and university students but this year students from schools including private schools and seminaries were also selected for the distribution of laptops. “Punjab Government is going to set up a Knowledge Park in Lahore which would be prove to be a milestone in the education sector as foreign universities would set up their campuses here” she said.

She informed the audience that the land for the proposed park has been acquired and its feasibility report has been approved.

She appreciated the hard work of students and advised them to work for the betterment of the country.

Deputy Director Colleges Prof Nasir Mehmood Awan said that Punjab Government has decided to invest in students and this would bring a highly positive change in the country.

“I’m envious of you because when I used to get first position during my academic career, I was only given small prizes like books or trophies but now you people are lucky as you are getting laptops”, he quipped.

Director Colleges Prof Humayun Iqbal, MNA Iffat Liaquat, Advisor to Chief Minister Malik Salim Iqbal, College Principal Prof Munazza Sheikh and District Coordination Officer Asif Bilal Lodhi also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2014