The CM Punjab Laptop Scheme gives free laptops to students in Punjab on merit. As of 14 September 2026, the official portal says “Application Submission is Closed!”, so you cannot apply right now. This guide explains who was eligible in the latest round, how merit works, where Phase II stands, and how to be ready if a new round opens.
The scheme is run by the Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) through the official portal cmlaptophed.punjab.gov.pk, which was built by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB). Applying has always been free, and selection is on merit, so your marks and eligibility matter most.
What is the CM Punjab Laptop Scheme?
Punjab first ran a laptop scheme for students in 2011. The current CM Punjab Laptop Program brought it back in 2025, after a gap of about eight years. The goal is to help students with learning, research and digital skills when they cannot afford a laptop on their own. Laptops are given on merit and depend on how many are available, so your marks decide your chances, not who you know or any payment.
The program runs in phases. On the official portal, Phase I was the 2025 round and Phase II is the 2026 round. Some news reports use the word “phase” for distribution ceremonies instead, which can be confusing, so this guide follows the portal’s own labels.
Status in September 2026: applications are closed
Here is where things stand, based on the counters on the official portal on 14 September 2026:
| What | Phase I (2025) | Phase II (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Applications received | 73,276 | 163,326 |
| Verified | 72,264 | Under process |
| Selected students | 39,275 | Under process |
This means the Phase II merit list had not been published on the portal yet. In June 2026, ProPakistani reported that 30,000 laptops for Phase II had reached Punjab, and that the Chief Minister had approved more than 70,000 laptops for students this year. Punjab’s 2026-27 budget set aside Rs 10 billion for 110,000 laptops, according to Dawn. Treat these numbers as reports, not a promise about your own application.
As of September 2026, we could not find any official announcement of a Phase III. Some blogs show a “last date” later in 2026, or a different website address. Do not trust them. Only the official portal can open a new round.
CM Punjab Laptop Scheme eligibility
These were the official Phase II criteria on the portal. You needed:
- A domicile from any district of Punjab. If you had applied for your domicile but not received it yet, proof of that application, such as the receiving slip, was accepted.
- To be enrolled in one of these, with admission in 2025:
- 1st or 2nd semester of BS at any public university or college, a federal chartered university, or a private university on the portal’s list. Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) was added on 1 March 2026.
- MBBS or BDS, 1st professional year, at a public medical or dental college or university
- 1st or 2nd semester of BS Nursing at a public nursing college
- DVM at a public university or college
- Not to have received a laptop under any earlier laptop scheme
Students of private colleges were not eligible. Only the private universities on the portal’s institutes list were included.
Minimum Intermediate marks
| Program | Minimum marks in Intermediate |
|---|---|
| BS (public, federal chartered or listed private university, or public college) | 65% |
| BS, for non-Muslim students | 55% |
| BS Nursing (public nursing college) | 65% |
| DVM (public university or college) | 75% |
| MBBS or BDS (public medical or dental college) | 80% |
| Blind students | Eligible whatever their marks |
These rules can change in a new round. Always read the eligibility section on the official portal before you apply.
Documents you need
The portal’s FAQ lists these documents:
- Your CNIC, front and back
- Your Matriculation (SSC) certificate
- Your Intermediate (HSSC) certificate, or an equivalent
- An equivalence certificate, if your qualification needs one
- Your domicile certificate
If you do not have a registration number yet, you can use your roll number or another official proof of enrollment. If you still need a domicile, see our guide to getting a Punjab domicile online.
How to apply online, step by step
Applications are closed right now. These steps show how Phase II worked, so you are ready if a new round opens. The whole process is online. Manual or paper applications are not accepted.
Step 1: Open the official portal
Go to cmlaptophed.punjab.gov.pk and sign in. This is the only official portal, so be careful of copycat websites. If the email linked to your application was wrong, the portal told students to visit the scheme’s focal person at their college or university to correct it.
Step 2: Fill in your details
Enter your personal, domicile and education details exactly as they appear on your documents. If your program is not in the drop-down list, choose “Other” and type the program name.
Step 3: Upload your documents
Upload clear, readable copies of your CNIC, certificates and domicile. Check each file before you submit.
Step 4: Submit, then watch your email
Submit your application. The portal sends status updates by email, and you can also check your status by signing in. If your application is marked Returned, you must correct it and resubmit before the closing date. You get only one chance to resubmit, and a returned application that is not fixed in time loses its place.
Last date and phases
The scheme runs in phases, and every phase has its own dates. Here is what the official portal announced for Phase II:
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 25 January 2026 | Phase II portal opened. Private university students could apply too. |
| 4 February 2026 | All federal chartered universities were added. |
| 1 March 2026 | Allama Iqbal Open University was added. |
| 20 April 2026 | Last date to submit applications |
| 31 May 2026 | Extended last date to resubmit returned applications (first set as 3 May) |
| 1 to 6 June 2026 | Grievance round for rejected candidates |
Phase I ran in 2025. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz began its laptop distribution at UET Lahore at the end of April 2025, and the portal lists the 2025 laptops as Core i7, 13th generation.
As of September 2026, no new application window is open. Do not trust a single “last date” on a random blog. Check the official portal for any new round.
Common application mistakes
- Using a copycat site. Only cmlaptophed.punjab.gov.pk is official.
- Details that do not match your documents. Type your name, marks and CNIC exactly as printed.
- Blurry uploads. Re-scan if a document is hard to read.
- Ignoring a Returned status. You get only one chance to fix and resubmit.
- Missing the dates. Each phase closes on a fixed date, and late applications are not accepted.
- Paying an agent. No one can guarantee selection. Applying is free.
Stay safe from fraud
- Apply only at cmlaptophed.punjab.gov.pk. There is no application fee.
- Nobody can add your name to the merit list for money. Selection is on merit only.
- Never share an OTP or your portal password with anyone, even someone who says they are from HED.
- Be careful of messages saying “Phase III registration is open” with a link to a different website.
If someone asks you for money, report it through the Pakistan Citizen’s Portal.
Need official help
- Portal: cmlaptophed.punjab.gov.pk, which also has a form for complaints and information
- Phone: +92 347 7473138
- Email: cmlaptop@hed.punjab.gov.pk
- In person: the scheme’s focal person at your college or university
Related support
Students may also qualify for these programs:
- CM Honhaar Scholarship, full tuition at public institutions and 50% at federal or private ones. As of September 2026, its portal is open only to AJK students, with no new Punjab round announced
- PEEF Scholarship, need-cum-merit support from the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund
- CM Punjab internships for graduates: the general program has had no new round since 2024, but other CM internships run in 2026
- All Punjab government schemes, the full list
To see which other Punjab and federal programs your household may qualify for, try our free eligibility checker.
GoPunjab is an independent information website. We are not the Higher Education Department or PITB, and we cannot register you, select you or give you a laptop. We only explain how the official process works so you can apply correctly yourself.