I WAS awarded a laptop under a scheme launched by a former prime minister. Ever since I received the laptop, I had to make do with it until it finally stopped working and I had to take it for repairing to one of the designated service centres. It was foolish of me to think that my problems were now going to be over.

As soon as I entered the service centre at a local electronics and mobile market, I realised that I had made a mistake. The way the poor laptop was handled by the staff was worth watching in amazement. And they charged a hefty amount for the repair work which one can get done with double the satisfaction and half the cost at any other shop in the market.

Since these machines were awarded to brilliant students across the country and are in use by students, one would think that the cost of repairs would be subsidised to facilitate the students. But they are being made to pay more than the market rate!

Saeed Ahmed Malik

Daharki

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2021