05/12/2014
Subject: Important Announcement for the Students having awarded with Laptops and accessories under the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme
Dear
The Higher Education Commission once again congratulate all talented students who have been awarded with laptops under the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme. It is believed that the laptop along with accessories will significantly benefit the students, and bring a positive change and a paradigm shift in the higher education, and will ultimately benefit the country in its socio-economic development.
These laptops are being distributed to the students in strict compliance to the approved policy and criteria for eligibility and distribution as stipulated at http://www.hec.gov.pk/laptops. Though in most cases, the policies and criteria are adhered to by the universities as well as students, however it has been learnt that occasionally there has been significant violation of the policy and criteria.
Moreover, a large number of complaints from universities and students have been received to HEC alleging that few students, who are known to be employed either in public sector or private sector organizations, have received the laptops while declaring themselves as “Not-Employed” during the process of Validation. Similarly, there has been incidences where students who have availed a laptop in past from federal or provincial governments, have received a laptop under this scheme as well, which is again in violation of the policy and criteria. Such students have also signed a solemn declaration at the time of receiving of laptops, claiming that they have not availed such facility in the past. This is indeed an immoral act on part of students and is a violation of eligibility criteria which is well defined and communicated to students.
The Higher Education Commission and the Project Steering Committee have taken a strong notice of such malpractices by few of the students, and have advised the Project Team to implement their decisions in this context. HEC therefore decides to take following strict actions against the students who are found guilty of such malpractice and do not return laptops and accessories within the given time despite of this warning;
1. Laptops shall be recovered from the students and/ or equal amount of penalty.
2. Registration/ Enrolment shall be cancelled by the respective university/ institute.
3. Employed shall be informed of the immoral character of such students.
It has been further decided that in order to ensure its implementation, an independent Monitoring and Evaluation Committee will be constituted to visit all universities/ institute as to see and verify if the laptops distribution has been in accordance to the policy defined for this scheme. Also HEC shall approach to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for verification against CNIC of those students who have been issued with laptops, as to check if they were employed at the time of laptop distribution and making Income Tax contribution accordingly.
You are therefore advised to re-check your position with respect to, i) Employment status at the time of receiving of laptop and accessories, and ii) Having availed a Laptop from any Federal or Provincial Government schemes. In case, either of the situation is applicable to you, please be advised to return the issued laptop and accessories immediately to your university’s focal person and not later than the Monday the December 15, 2014. Please ask for a System Generated Acknowledgement Receipt from the Focal Person on return of laptop and accessories as issued to you.
With kind regards,
Project Director
Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme
Higher Education Commission
Sector H – 9, Islamabad – Pakistan.
http://www.hec.gov.pk/laptops
