UHS students awarded 103 laptops under PM Youth Scheme

As many as 103 students of the University of Health Sciences (UHS) were awarded laptops on Friday under Phase IV of the Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Scheme at a ceremony held on campus

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Feb, 2026) As many as 103 students of the University of Health Sciences (UHS) were awarded laptops on Friday under Phase IV of the Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Scheme at a ceremony held on campus.

Provincial Minister for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique attended the event as chief guest and also inaugurated the Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore Centre for Faculty Excellence.

Addressing the ceremony, the minister congratulated the students who secured laptops on merit, stating that their achievement reflected dedication and discipline. He said that in today’s world, a laptop was not a luxury but a basic academic necessity, adding that digital access connected students to research journals, online libraries and global learning platforms. He thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for expanding youth-focused initiatives across the country and remarked that the scheme was ensuring equal opportunities for students nationwide. Referring to provincial measures, he said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was continuing student support programmes, including the provincial laptop scheme and Honhaar scholarships.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Centre for Faculty Excellence, Vice Chancellor Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore described the initiative as an institutional commitment to strengthening the intellectual foundations of medical education.

He said the centre reflected a culture where faculty development, disciplined scholarship and academic leadership remained central to institutional progress. He added that medical education was transformed not by infrastructure alone but by empowered teachers, noting, "When teachers grow, institutions rise, and when institutions rise, healthcare outcomes improve." He said the centre would serve as a hub for faculty development, research collaboration and innovation across affiliated colleges in Punjab.

Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Nadia Naseem said the centre aimed to provide an environment conducive to academic dialogue and scientific inquiry, enabling faculty to refine teaching practices and enhance research capacity.

Fahad Shehbaz, Coordinator of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme in Punjab, said the government’s youth initiatives were designed to remove financial and digital barriers faced by talented students. He added that the laptop scheme, scholarships and skill development programmes reflected a long-term strategy to prepare young Pakistanis for a competitive global environment.

Members of the Prime Minister’s National Youth Council, faculty members and a large number of students attended the ceremony.