Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday described Pakistan’s youth as the country’s greatest strength, saying investment in education and skills was an investment in the future.

Speaking at the launch of the Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Programme at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in Muzaffarabad, the prime minister said the laptops were not merely devices but tools to connect students with knowledge, opportunity and the global digital economy.

He cited past examples of students who used earlier laptop schemes to build careers and overcome social and economic barriers.

“Our youth, particularly Generation Z, are more aware and better equipped to use technology than earlier generations,” he said.

The prime minister urged students to play a responsible role on digital and social media platforms, warning against misinformation and fake news. He said educated youth must help distinguish fact from falsehood in an era shaped by competing narratives.

Rejecting criticism that such programmes were political handouts, PM Shehbaz said laptops had always been distributed on merit. He added that their role in sustaining education during the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated their value.

Announcing new initiatives for Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister approved four Danish Schools, proposed a technology-focused Danish University and announced the revival of the Prime Minister’s Education Endowment Fund. The fund will provide scholarships to talented but underprivileged students from AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and other parts of the country, including for studies abroad.

Touching on the Kashmir issue, PM Shehbaz said the Kashmiri people had made immense sacrifices and shared an unbreakable bond with Pakistan. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s political, moral and diplomatic support and called for unity, discipline and hard work to achieve national goals.

“Our youth are our future,” he said, expressing confidence that merit and opportunity would enable them to take Pakistan and Kashmir forward.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ameer Muqam said governance conditions were improving, and institutions were regaining strength. He thanked the prime minister for approving a Danish School for the Haveli district, calling it a major step for educational uplift.

AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore said the laptop programme and new education projects reflected federal trust in Kashmiri youth and would help them compete at national and international levels.

UAJK Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasir Jamal Khattak welcomed the prime minister and said improved access to technology would boost research, innovation and learning outcomes.

During the ceremony, laptops were distributed to top-performing students on merit. An AJK Police contingent presented a guard of honour to mark the occasion.