Students keep landing on the wrong portal for one simple reason: the Chromebook scheme and the PM laptop scheme sound alike, but they are two different schemes for two different groups of students. The Chromebook scheme is for top-performing school students (Grade 9, and Grade 10 in some regions), run through IBCC and the education boards. The PM Youth Laptop Scheme is for university students, run through HEC. They have different portals, different eligibility rules, and different devices — and registering for one does not register you for the other. Confusing them is the commonest reason students end up on the wrong portal.
The differences, side by side
| PM Youth Chromebook Scheme (2026) | PM Youth Laptop Scheme | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Top-performing school students: Grade 9 in the four provinces; Grades 9 and 10 in Islamabad, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan; plus registered seminary students | Regular, full-time students at public-sector HEC-recognised universities and degree-awarding institutes (4/5-year bachelor’s, master’s, MS/MPhil, PhD) |
| Who runs it | PMYP with the Ministry of Federal Education; registration via IBCC and the boards (BISEs) | PMYP with HEC handling verification and merit lists |
| Official portal | pmychromebooks.ibcc.edu.pk | laptop.pmyp.gov.pk |
| Device | Refurbished Chromebook (ChromeOS) + MiFi internet device + bag | Laptop (Windows-based, in past phases) |
| Selection basis | Annual Examinations 2026 results, from each board’s shortlist of top performers | Academic merit (CGPA/percentage) within your university and programme, verified by your university’s focal person |
| Private institutions? | No — government/public schools only | No — public-sector universities only (private universities not covered) |
| Scale announced | 500,000 Chromebooks over two years (launched 25 Oct 2026) | About 600,000 laptops over roughly ten years, per the Prime Minister at the Chromebook launch |
| Current status (26 Oct 2026) | Launched 25 Oct 2026; distribution over two years; first board registration round reported closed 19 Oct 2026 for some boards | Last completed phase (Phase-IV) reported closed; no new phase announced on PMYP/HEC sites at last check |
Which one is for you? Decide in 30 seconds
- You are in Grade 9 (or Grade 10 in Islamabad/AJK/GB) at a government school → the Chromebook scheme. Check your board’s list and the IBCC portal: Chromebook Scheme Overview.
- You are at a public university (BS, master’s, MS/MPhil, PhD) → the laptop scheme. Read: PM Youth Laptop Scheme: Who Is Eligible, and How to Check Your PM Laptop Scheme Status by CNIC.
- You are at a private school or private university → neither scheme covers you under current rules. Punjab students should also check the separate provincial scheme: CM Punjab Laptop Scheme.
- You are between school and university (for example, in college/Intermediate) → neither scheme’s current criteria cover Intermediate students directly. Use the waiting time well: free skills training is open more broadly — see DigiSkills Free Online Courses and NAVTTC Free Skills Training.
Can you apply for both?
Only if you genuinely qualify for both at the same time — which, in practice, almost never happens, because one is for school students and the other for university students. You cannot “transfer” an application between them, and a Chromebook registration does not put you on any laptop merit list (or the reverse). If you are a university student who missed the laptop scheme, a Chromebook application will not help you; if you are a Grade 9 student, a laptop portal account will not help you either.
Does the Chromebook scheme replace the laptop scheme?
No. Nothing in the launch announcement says the laptop scheme is ending. The Prime Minister presented the Chromebook scheme as building on the earlier laptop programme — same goal (getting devices to talented students who cannot afford them), new audience (school students instead of university students), new device (Chromebook instead of Windows laptop), and a much faster announced pace (500,000 in two years, against about 600,000 laptops in roughly ten years). Treat any post claiming “laptop scheme replaced by Chromebook scheme” as wrong unless an official PMYP or HEC notice says so.
Why a Chromebook, and why now?
A Chromebook is cheaper and simpler than a Windows laptop: it runs Google’s ChromeOS, works mostly online, and is built around web apps, documents, and video classes rather than heavy installed software. That fits the scheme’s stated purpose — classroom e-learning, digital libraries, and online classes for school students — and it fits the budget logic of reaching 500,000 students in two years. It does not fit every purpose: a university student running engineering software, data tools, or a thesis workflow needs the heavier machine the laptop scheme provides. The device matches the audience, and that is the point.
Scam warning that applies to both schemes
Both schemes have the same scam pattern: fake portals, WhatsApp “agents”, and fee demands. The rules are identical for both — official portals only (pmychromebooks.ibcc.edu.pk for Chromebooks, laptop.pmyp.gov.pk for laptops), no fee, no OTP or PIN sharing, no agent can guarantee selection. Our full safety guides: Fake Chromebook Registration Scams and How to Spot Fake Government Scheme Websites, SMS, and Agents.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Chromebook scheme and the laptop scheme the same thing?
No. Different students, different administrators (IBCC/boards vs HEC), different portals, and different devices.
I am in Grade 9 at a government school. Which portal do I use?
The IBCC portal: pmychromebooks.ibcc.edu.pk — and only if your board has shortlisted you.
I am a university student. Can I apply for a Chromebook instead?
No. The Chromebook scheme covers school students only under current criteria. University students fall under the laptop scheme.
Can I apply for both schemes at once?
Only if you qualify for both simultaneously, which almost never happens because the two schemes target different education levels.
Has the laptop scheme been cancelled?
No official notice checked says so. Its last completed phase (Phase-IV) is reported closed, with no new phase announced — that is a pause between phases, not a cancellation.
Also useful: the PM Youth Programme overview. Official sources: the IBCC Chromebook portal, the PM Youth laptop portal, and the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme site.
Always verify scheme details on the official portals before acting — this comparison is published independently and is not an official notice from either scheme.
