Maryam Nawaz Announces Laptops for Top Students

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced that position-holding students will receive laptops as part of her government’s effort to expand educational opportunities across the province. She also pledged five buses for Kinnaird College for Women to improve transport facilities for its students.

The chief minister made the announcements while addressing the college’s 89th convocation. Congratulating the graduating students, she encouraged young women to pursue ambitious professional goals and play a stronger role in Pakistan’s economic and social development.

Maryam said access to education should not be determined by a family’s financial circumstances. She maintained that talented students must be given the resources needed to continue their studies and compete effectively, regardless of their economic background.

Discussing the challenges faced by women in public and professional life, she said working women frequently encounter greater scrutiny and pressure. She urged graduates not to allow social criticism or restrictive expectations to prevent them from building careers and achieving financial independence.

The chief minister also highlighted measures intended to make public transport safer for female passengers. She said electric buses operating in the province were equipped with security features, including surveillance cameras and panic buttons, and encouraged women to report incidents of harassment immediately.

Maryam claimed that provincial programmes were being redesigned to provide equal opportunities to male and female beneficiaries. According to her address, some government initiatives that previously offered a larger share of opportunities to boys had been adjusted to establish equal access for girls.

She also referred to administrative changes in the higher-education sector, saying that 22 universities were without vice chancellors when her administration assumed office. She said the vacant leadership positions were subsequently filled through merit-based appointments to improve the management of public universities.

Looking ahead, Maryam said her government wanted to help students become financially independent while continuing their education. She also mentioned plans to make electric motorcycles available to women through affordable instalment arrangements, presenting the initiative as another step toward improving mobility and access to employment.