Pakistan Tech News: Chromebook Scheme, Alibaba AI Push & Russia Talks (Nov 2026)

Three stories are driving Pakistan tech news this week: the rollout of the Prime Minister’s Youth Chromebook Scheme, a November deadline for AI projects with China’s Alibaba Group, and a new round of technology talks with Russia. This article sticks to what officials and news outlets have reported, names each source, and points out where reports differ. It was last updated on November 7, 2026.

Quick Summary

PM Youth Chromebook Scheme

What Was Announced

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the scheme at a ceremony in Islamabad on Sunday, October 25. Arab News reports that authorities will provide 500,000 Chromebooks to students on merit over the next two years. According to Daily Pakistan, the Prime Minister recalled that about 600,000 laptops had been distributed over a decade and said this time the government intends to provide 500,000 devices in 24 months. ARY News reports that the Chromebooks come with MiFi internet connectivity.

One difference between reports is worth noting. An explainer by Geo News, citing education ministry officials, says the 500,000 refurbished Chromebooks will be distributed over three years, not two.

Who Runs It and Who Supplies the Devices

Geo reports that the scheme is run by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training together with the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, and that the TT Care Foundation has committed to supply the devices under a letter of understanding. Repair and maintenance will be provided through a contracted firm after the first year of delivery, according to the same report.

Province-wise Quota

Geo lists the following allocation of devices:

Within each province or region, Geo says four of every five devices go to school students and one to madaris students. Among school students, science takes 70 percent and arts 30 percent.

Eligibility: What Reports Say

Reports differ on some details, so check the official portal before applying. Geo says students are ranked on their latest SSC-I scores, verified by the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC), must clear a minimum of 50 percent, and that public school students, pupils at private schools funded through provincial education foundations, and students of registered madaris are eligible. Daily Pakistan’s launch-day report says only students in government or public schools can apply, and that each board decides its own top-performing criteria, since there is no single nationwide marks cutoff. It also says students in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan must be top performers in Grade 9, while students in AJK, Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan can come from Grade 9 or Grade 10.

On November 5, ARY News reported that Grade 9 Matric Tech students at government technical and vocational institutions affiliated with the Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE) are now eligible. According to the report, applicants must have secured more than 50 percent marks.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the official IBCC portal. Daily Pakistan describes the steps as follows: select your education board, enter your CNIC or B-Form number, roll number or registration number along with your date of birth, click “Find my record,” review the details, upload the required documents, then submit and download your reference slip. The report says you can apply only once and the form cannot be edited afterward. Documents listed include a recent photograph, the SSC-I or SSC-II mark sheet, an attested copy of the B-Form or CNIC, and an attested copy of the father’s or guardian’s CNIC, each under 300 KB. The same report adds that the government had not yet fully detailed the registration process at the time of the launch, so students should follow official announcements.

Merit Lists and Registration

Merit lists are being released board by board. Daily Pakistan reports that the Karachi board (BSEK) has published its shortlist online, and that shortlisted students must still complete an additional registration requirement, since appearing on the list does not by itself guarantee a Chromebook.

Delivery and Complaints

According to Geo, officials say each device will be linked to its recipient by serial number, checked against merit, enrolment, institutional affiliation and delivery details, and sent directly to verified students by courier, with a central system tracking each dispatch and delivery. Grievance redressal committees are planned at examination board and provincial or regional levels to handle complaints about merit ranking, inclusion or exclusion from lists, enrolment checks, examination data and devices not received.

Alibaba AI and Digital Trade Projects

On October 28, the Prime Minister chaired a meeting to review the use of AI and digitization in governance and the collaboration with Alibaba Group. Arab News Pakistan reports, citing Radio Pakistan, that he directed ministries to complete all necessary measures by next month and submit a report, and asked for clear targets, defined timelines and effective monitoring.

The same report says agreements signed during his visit to Alibaba’s Hangzhou headquarters in May envisaged digital transformation and support for at least 2,000 Pakistani small and medium enterprises accessing international markets. Officials told the meeting that digital verification of trade documents through Pakistan Single Window has become operational, and that a Pakistan Pavilion has been established on Alibaba’s platform to promote Pakistani products. A two-year program involving Alibaba and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) is also being launched to provide training, e-commerce opportunities and market access. The Prime Minister called for faster implementation of a 15-day AI training program for IT graduates through the Ignite initiative.

The report notes that the projects are at different stages. An AI-assisted cancer diagnosis project remains a proposed pilot. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority is being provided with AI and business intelligence tools to analyze fuel supply-chain data, and work is under way on agricultural AI models and digital platforms for citrus and olive exports.

Pakistan-Russia Technology Talks

On November 5, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and Moscow’s University of World Civilizations held a technology webinar in Islamabad. Digital Pakistan reports it was the third in a bilateral series and covered six priority areas: AI and cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital governance, IT services trade, workforce development and quantum computing. It also reports that no deals were signed. Mettis Global reports that participating companies were asked to develop practical proposals, including pilot projects, instead of limiting discussions to broad cooperation.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan produces more than 75,000 IT graduates a year and aims to develop one million AI professionals by 2030, supported by seven new AI centers, as reported by The Express Tribune. The same report quotes him saying cooperation with Russia could focus on automation and enterprise software for industry, digital supply chains for agriculture, secure digital systems for trade, AI, cloud computing and cybersecurity, and that Pakistan needs to move beyond exporting IT services toward developing products and digital platforms for international markets.

Background: Pakistan’s IT Export Figures

According to Arab News Pakistan, the government says IT and telecom exports reached a record $4.6 billion in the fiscal year ending June 2026, up around 20 percent from the previous year, as the country aims to build a $1 trillion economy by 2035. PhoneWorld puts the increase at 21 percent and links the growth to the National AI Policy 2025, a planned $1 billion investment in the AI sector, and AI centers in Haripur and at NUST.

What Happens Next

Based on the reports above: ministries are due to submit their Alibaba progress report in November; Chromebook merit lists and registrations are continuing board by board; and Pakistani and Russian companies have been asked to prepare practical proposals following the November 5 webinar. Readers should follow official channels, including the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and the IBCC portal, for updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Chromebooks will be distributed under the PM scheme?

The scheme plans to distribute 500,000 Chromebooks. The Prime Minister said this would happen over two years, while Geo’s explainer, citing officials, says three years.

Where do students apply for the Chromebook scheme?

Applications go through the official portal at pmychromebooks.ibcc.edu.pk, as reported by Daily Pakistan and ARY News.

Is being on a merit list enough to get a Chromebook?

According to Daily Pakistan, the Karachi board has said shortlisted students must complete an additional registration requirement.

Are Matric Tech students in Punjab eligible?

ARY News reported on November 5 that Grade 9 Matric Tech students at PBTE-affiliated government institutions are eligible, with more than 50 percent marks required.

What is Pakistan doing with Alibaba?

Projects cover export platforms, agricultural technology, tax administration, health care and fuel supply-chain monitoring, with ministries asked to complete measures by November, according to Arab News Pakistan.

Did Pakistan and Russia sign any tech deals?

No. Digital Pakistan reports that no deals were signed at the November 5 webinar, though companies were asked to prepare proposals.

How big are Pakistan’s IT exports?

The government says IT and telecom exports reached a record $4.6 billion in the fiscal year ending June 2026, up around 20 percent.

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EXTERNAL SOURCES 

Geo News: PM Chromebook Scheme Explained
Daily Pakistan: Chromebook Scheme Launched
ARY News: Matric Students Made Eligible
Arab News Pakistan: Alibaba Projects Deadline
Digital Pakistan: Pakistan, Russia Shortlist Tech Projects
The Express Tribune: 1M AI Professionals by 2030