A parliamentary watchdog has flagged serious discrepancies in the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme (Phase-II), revealing that over a thousand laptops meant for students have either vanished or been stolen.
An audit report presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) subcommittee stated that 1,011 laptops distributed under the federal program were untraceable. Authorities have since managed to recover 784 devices, but 227 are still missing, causing an estimated loss of nearly Rs. 12 million to taxpayers.
Despite the scale of the issue, officials admitted that no disciplinary action has been taken against those responsible so far.
HEC Admits Lapses, Revises Figures
The Higher Education Commission (HEC), which oversaw distribution, acknowledged earlier reporting errors. Initial discrepancies were recorded at 179 laptops, but the figure has now been adjusted to 143. Investigations remain ongoing in Karachi and at Government Sadiq College Women’s University, Bahawalpur, where several laptops remain unaccounted for.
PAC Sets Deadline for Recovery
Frustrated by the lack of accountability, the PAC has given authorities one month to recover all missing laptops. If recovery efforts fail, losses will be recovered directly from those found negligent.
The Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme, launched to promote digital literacy among students, has faced frequent criticism over alleged mismanagement. This latest revelation could raise further questions about transparency and oversight in government-run education initiatives.
