The Government of Pakistan has launched an admirable initiative of distributing laptops to talented students. Under the Prime Minister Youth Program, over 1,000,000 laptops will be provided to eligible recipients. Registration for the laptops is now open for students enrolled in prestigious educational institutes.
However, the laptop distribution scheme has sparked debates regarding the necessity of laptops for students. While many people appreciate this initiative of the government, some voice their criticism.
Students overwhelmingly support the laptop distribution scheme as they perceive laptops as essential tools for their university studies.
Aneeba, a Biochemistry student at Punjab University, emphasizes the significance of embracing new technology to meet the challenges of the 21st century and to facilitate progress. She expresses, ‘‘To equip students with the latest technology, it is necessary to provide them with laptops. Many students come from middle-class or lower-class families and cannot afford laptops. So, it is a great step by the government to re-open the laptop distribution scheme, which was closed for the past four years.’’
Laptops are beneficial for students to study and gain knowledge. Aimen Ashraf, a student of microbiology asserts, ‘‘Laptops are helpful for writing assignments, creating presentations and learning online courses, which is not convenient on mobile phones.
Safa Khalid, a mass communication major states, ‘‘Laptop is portable, enabling us to study anywhere. Through laptops, students can have online discussions with their fellow mates, teachers, or their online friends on any topic, thereby enhancing their learning or knowledge. A laptop is essential for academic success and exams preparation.’’
Laptops are a boon for students who are learning new software and establishing themselves in the realm of freelancing.
Mashal Mubarak, a student of public health and a freelance writer explains, ‘‘Laptop is an indispensable tool for writing and reading e-books. It is useful in finding remote work opportunities.’’
Umer Ibrahim, a Communication Studies major, says, ‘‘Through my laptop, I have learned different skills like video editing, audio editing, and graphic designing, by using different software like Canva, Adobe Audition, Adobe Premiere, etc. All these skills become easy for me to learn because of the laptop.’’
Many research students rely on laptops to access research-related material, explore different databases, read about different publications, and publish their research work.
Humna, a student of mass media research explains, ‘‘I use a laptop extensively for my research purposes and it has given me numerous opportunities to excel in mass media research. The laptop has now become an essential part of my academic and professional journeys.’’
However, some opponents argue that laptops will be a waste of time as students only use them for entertainment purposes.
In this Global technological environment, where almost everything is shifting towards a digital ecosystem. A laptop can be helpful for students for educational purposes.
Overall, the laptop distribution scheme is a good initiative and it should continue.
