Kohsar University students protest delay in PM laptop scheme

MURREE: Students at Kohsar University have voiced concern over a delay in the distribution of laptops under the Prime Minister's Laptop Scheme, saying most eligible students at the institution have yet to receive the devices.

According to the students, laptop distribution has already taken place at other government universities in Punjab, while only a small number of students at Kohsar University have received laptops so far. They said the majority of students at the university have been left out despite the rollout of the scheme elsewhere.

The students also raised objections to the first phase of distribution, alleging that the process was not carried out fairly. Their complaints centre on what they described as unequal allocation during the earlier round of the scheme.

Administration cites HEC merit list

The university administration, however, rejected the suggestion that the process was handled improperly. It maintained that the laptops distributed in the first phase were awarded strictly in line with the merit list issued by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The issue has caused frustration among students, who say the delay has created uncertainty for those still waiting for laptops under the federal programme. Their concerns come amid comparisons with other public sector universities in Punjab where, they said, distribution has already been completed or is under way on a wider scale.

While students insist that most of their peers at Kohsar University have been sidelined, the administration has stood by the process followed in the initial phase and linked it to the HEC's merit-based criteria.

The matter reflects a dispute between students' claims of unfairness and the university's position that the distribution was conducted according to the officially issued merit list. No further details were provided in the report about the number of laptops distributed or the timeline for the remaining students.

Students have continued to express serious concern over the delay, particularly in light of their claim that recipients at other government universities in Punjab have already received laptops under the same scheme. At Kohsar University, they said, only a few students have benefited so far, leaving the larger student body still waiting.

The administration's response has remained consistent: the first phase of distribution, it said, was carried out on the basis of the HEC-issued merit list. The disagreement has therefore focused both on the pace of distribution and on students' allegations regarding fairness in the initial allotment.