31 JSMU students receive laptops under Prime Minister’s scheme

KARACHI: A total of 31 students of Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) received laptops at a ceremony held at Governor’s House, Karachi, on Saturday, completing the latest distribution under the Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Distribution Programme.

JSMU has been allocated 335 laptops under the programme, of which 304 have already been distributed, while the remaining 31 students received their devices at the Governor’s House ceremony.

The distribution provides JSMU students with digital resources intended to support their academic work, research, access to online learning materials and skills development.

Governor highlights youth education and innovation

Governor Sindh Nehal Hashmi attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest, while Dr Fahad Shafiq, Coordinator Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Sindh, was the Guest of Honour.

Also present were Prem Chand Bahadur, Chief Field Officer, UNICEF Sindh; Suleman Ahmed, Director and Regional In-Charge, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Region Karachi; Professor Amjad Siraj Memon, Vice Chancellor, Jinnah Sindh Medical University; and Dr Saif-ur-Rehman, Principal Secretary to the Governor Sindh.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Nehal Hashmi emphasised the importance of continuity and consistency in achieving meaningful progress.

He said the ceremony marked the final laptop distribution event of the year, adding that more than 20,000 laptops had been distributed among 33 universities across Sindh.

The Governor expressed hope that young people would use such opportunities to become creators and innovators, describing the laptop initiative as a modest effort to support their education.

Referring to the university's name, he said, “Jinnah is the name of a great personality, and Sindh is the name of a great region; when the two come together, they form Jinnah Sindh Medical University.”

JSMU links laptops to academic and research opportunities

Professor Amjad Siraj Memon, Vice Chancellor of Jinnah Sindh Medical University, thanked Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for the initiative and Governor Sindh Nehal Hashmi for his support.

He said the laptops would enhance students' access to academic resources and research, while also requesting the Governor's assistance in improving transport facilities for JSMU students.

The university's participation in the programme comes as digital access becomes increasingly important for students pursuing higher education, particularly for research, online academic resources and technology-enabled learning.

Officials stress skills, reskilling and responsible technology use

Prem Chand Bahadur, Chief Field Officer, UNICEF Sindh, appreciated the Governor's efforts for youth empowerment and described the laptop programme as an investment in Sindh's future.

He highlighted access to knowledge, entrepreneurship, employment and certified skills as important avenues for creating opportunities for young people.

Suleman Ahmed, Director and Regional In-Charge, HEC Region Karachi, described the laptop distribution as an important milestone and credited Dr Fahad Shafiq and Governor Nehal Hashmi for their efforts.

He encouraged young people to develop analytical thinking, embrace reskilling, remain consistent and continue learning throughout their lives.

Dr Saif-ur-Rehman, Principal Secretary to the Governor Sindh, said technology had made life easier and transformed the way people learn and work. He urged young people to use technology correctly and responsibly.

More youth programmes planned

Dr Fahad Shafiq outlined several upcoming initiatives under the broader youth-focused programme, including the Governor’s Laptop Scheme, Rozgar Scheme and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summer Camps for schools and colleges.

He also highlighted plans to develop Governor House as an academic space and discussed the DYH app, which is intended to provide access to scholarships and other youth programmes.

The initiatives indicate a broader focus on combining digital access with skills development, employment opportunities, scholarships and technology education for young people in Sindh.

For JSMU students, the distribution of the final 31 laptops completes the allocation of 335 devices to the university under the Prime Minister's laptop programme, giving another group of medical university students direct access to technology that can support their studies and research.

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