Zong to Provide Internet Access to 100,000 Students Under Prime Minister Laptop Scheme
Zong to Provide Internet Access to 100,000 Students Under Prime Minister Laptop Scheme
Zong has signed a contract with Higher Education Commission (HEC) for the provision of Wireless Broadband Services on laptops to be provided to the students across the country under the “Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme Phase-II”.
Under the contract, Zong will offer free 100,000 3G Dongles to qualifying students — who will also get Laptops — across Pakistan.
HEC and Zong said that objective is to provide reliable and efficient connectivity access to students through these Wireless Broad Band Services and enhance their knowledge base across the country.
Chairman & CEO Zong Mr. Liu Dianfeng said,
“We appreciate Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif’s vision for putting more emphasis on Education and vesting in the betterment of people of Pakistan.
Education plays vital role in the progress of any nation. Zong takes it as its responsibility to contribute to the uplift of different social sectors.
It is with this spirit that we have decided to come forward and assist the Government of Pakistan in its Prime Minister Laptop Scheme Phase II which will benefit thousands of bright students across the country.”
The students will be provided wireless internet access to Global Educational Resources available on HEC’s Digital Library through PERN (Pakistan Education & Research Network).
Niaz A. Malik, Deputy CEO – Zong and M. Arshad Kamran, DG Services – HEC signing a contract for the provision of wireless broadband services under PM Laptop Scheme Phase II. Also seen in the picture are Mr. Liu Dianfeng, Chairman & CEO, Zong and Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC alongwith other senior officials
The HEC Digital Library resources were currently available to students only in campuses of respective Universities; but by virtue of this project, students will be able to access the Digital Library resources across the country, anywhere, anytime.
With 3G internet dongles from Zong, students will also enjoy seamless Internet services, besides the access to HEC Digital Library.
These dongles will come with free 3G internet services for three months, after which students will be allowed to use the services as per usual 3G tariffs from Zong.
Chairman HEC, Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad said,
“Education can make a lot of difference in social well-being of nearly 47 million Pakistani youth among which over 2.6 million students are getting Higher education.
This initiative is an effort to provide more and more efficient means of education in line with Prime Minister’s vision 2025.
HEC and Zong can work together to setup R&D centers, E-Classrooms and Innovation Centers for youth capacity building. Pakistani youth is full of innovative ideas which needs to be empowered through these platforms.”
Zong will also help HEC in program designing, implementation of scheme as well as execution of this vital project.
Not to be mentioned, 100,000 students from across Pakistan in public universities will be selected to be given free laptops and the dongles.
More details on selection criteria and list of students who will get these laptops and dongles can be obtained from their respective universities.
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