"Politicians also have no leisure, because they are always aiming at something beyond political life itself, power and glory, or happiness." - Aristotle
runaway
Free laptops for Punjab students, now sold online
http://tribune.com.pk/story/359585/free-laptops-for-punjab-students-now-sold-online/
As the Government of Punjab continues to distribute free laptops to ‘talented’ students in the province, it appears that some have taken to selling the gift online.
I thought these meritorious students would be doing research on these laptops. Hahahahaha
sandman
LOL...thats funny..
But what's serious is that the courts are now investigating the scheme...
siddiqi73
@Sandman,
Please review this news again. The case has been disposed off by the court and it has ordered the convenor of this program to look into the matter and revert with a satisfactory justification to the petitioner. Obviously not everyone can be be satisfied and there would be people out there who would feel undone. But that in no way casts aspersion on the motive of Punjab Government as the selected candidates are sifted through multiple stages and somewhere along the line, gaffes are bound to happen.
abdulhameed
@Sidd
So, what was the motive of Punjab Govt?
siddiqi73
To honour meritorious students of Punjab.
sandman
Sid bhai,
To quote:
"Justice Umar Ata Bandyal, hearing the petition, ordered the convener of the program to investigate into the issue and also ordered the petitioner to approach the convener after seven days to resolve his grievance. The petition was disposed of after the orders were passed."
Thats what I said, the scheme is being investigated...
The issue is not if gaffes were made or not, its that its embarrassing for SS when laptops are being sold online, there are allegations of laptops not being awarded on merit, allegations of money spent on lavish functions to hand out 30 laptops, etc, etc...
Overall it gives the impression that the whole scheme was badly thought out, managed and implemented. Typical PMLN you could say :)
siddiqi73
@Sand,
The case is being investigated by the convenor and not the courts; that's the difference. If some degenerates have decided to sell of their machines in the open market, how does it reflect poorly or cause an embarrassment to SS and Punjab Government. As for allegations, they still entail investigation until it is proven that irregularities did take place under institutional supervision.
abdulhameed
@siddiqi73
"To honour meritorious students of Punjab."
Come on bhai, i was not expecting this from you, being a senior and active blogger. Did anybody asked students, what should be done to honour them? NO, bcoz being a student, i know, its more important to get an internship/traineeship after completing the degree, as its very hard to get a job, even an interview call, if you don't have any practical experience.
If it was to honour meritorious students, then why a hell of tax payers money was spent on sharif family & PMLN promotion?
siddiqi73
@Abdulhameed,
I completely agree with you and it sounds like a brilliant idea. But bro for something this ingenious and out of the box endeavour has to materialize, the state needs competent bureaucrats and public representatives who are attuned with best practices of a corporate culture and who are willing to go into the market and strategise alliances with FMCG, Banks, Services Sectors and Multi national Companies wherein such corporate houses would set aside a specific quota of internees who will be sponsored by the Punjab Government or for that matter, any government.
I'm all for such ideas and eventually no matter who is perched on the seat of power, the rulers would have to think along corporate lines and out of the box ideas to provide relief to the citizenry.
sandman
@Sid,
When you do a scheme or take an iniative, you understandably want "good" publicity....but there has been enough "bad" publicity around this laptop scheme, that can be preceived as negative or embarrassing.
The key point is not what the intention of CM/Punjab Govt was, but what the preception is.
Personaly, I believe it's just a move to win over some of the youth vote (as no doubt you would expect me to :) ), and there will be others (PMLN supporters) who will believe its a genuine iniative to support the students. Why knows, maybe the truth is somewhere in between??
But my point is, "bad" publicity creates a negative preception which counters any good intentions intended. Therefore, bad publicity is to be avoided....
I don't think I would be wrong in saying that there has been enough bad publicity (for whatever reason, political/personal) in the press that has taken the gloss off the scheme....
anasyounus
As I read and understood, the Procedure adopted for distribution of laptops is a Good one, and to most extent ensures transparency.
The Problem to me is the vision, objective, benefits of the scheme and the money spent on personal projection, wont go into details since its already been discussed before.
anasyounus
And this sale of laptops in the market was bound to happen.
As I quoted earlier the stats of ITU that internet penetration in Pakistan is around 16.8%, and its safe to assume that computer/laptop penetration would be higher thn this since Not everyone who has the computer has the internet connection but it cannot be the case the other way round.
Considering this, I think more thn 95% (or more) of students getting the laptops (even 95% all uni level students) already have the access to Personal Computer and internet connection.
siddiqi73
@Sand,
In our culture of leg pulling and trying to prove that one is a bigger m0ron than the other, more often than not aspersions would be cast even if something is being done with the most purest of intentions in mind. There are haters and purveyors of bad publicity in rival political parties and electronic and print media who try to do their utmost best to take the sheen off of anything even if it is good for the public. In this regard, I will not absolve PML-N either.
SultanAliKhan
@siddiqi
I admire your diehard approach of defending a screwed govt as sharifs in Punjab, it's not an ordinary feat......lol
Having said that, how would you justify Nawaz Sharif distributing laptops bought of exchequers money? Have you noticed smirk on ns face when he doles out laptop to students? As if royal high highness blessing his subjects with loot....loll
Previous yellow taxi scheme cost Pak $700 millions in defaulted loans and deprived govt of $500 million in revenue as the import duties were lifted, now god only knows how much this poor nation will have to pay for these brilliant brothers screw-up scheme for another yellow cab scheme.
To me, you are a wise guy who made only one mistake in life; joining PML-N, sorta Curtlty Ambrose playing in Bangladesh Team".."."...."lol
siddiqi73
SAK!!! Long time no howler...I thought you had been made Additional Secretary of PTI's social media team overseeing political activity on the internet which led to you being incommunicado for a while now ;)
And thanks for the adulations and reverence, I would try to consume such veneration with a pinch of salt :D As for distribution of laptops by NS, I will not try to be my usual intransigent self but can only present an opinion that NS is an ex-PM whose party is in the government in Punjab. BTW, you did not raise any objection on Maryam doing the same thing; am I correct to assume that another "Daisy Cutter Bomb" has been dropped on your behind since MM and Sana Bucha :D :D
As for Curtly Ambrose and Bengali Cricket....hahahahah!
Haroon-ur-Rashid
answer me a simple question:
who is corrupt? the one who gave you free laptop (out of taxpayer money) or the one who is selling/buying it in the market?
asif65
Answer: The one who gave the free laptop to buy support of youth but
Laptop shahbaz ka vote imran ka
Bawa
اس سے کیا فرق پڑتا ہے؟ یہاں تو لوگ اپنی ضروریات پوری کرنے کے لیے اپنے گولڈ میڈل تک بیچ دیتے ہیں
دیار غیر میں پاکستان کیلئے کارہائے نمایاں انجام دینے والے سابق اولمپئن اور ایشین گولڈ میڈلسٹ باکسر جان محمد بلوچ جگر کے عارضے میں مبتلا ہوکر شدید مشکلات کا شکار ہیں، ان کا کہنا ہے کہ وہ پاکستان باکسنگ فیڈریشن سے مدد نہ ملنے اور بچوں کی بیروزگاری کے باعث ریگل چوک پر اپنی معذور بیٹی کے ہمراہ گولڈ میڈل فروخت اور مخیر حضرات سے بھیک مانگیں گے
ہاں غیر منتخب لوگوں اور نواز شریف کے فیملی کے افراد کا قومی خزانے سے خریدے گئے لیپ توپ تقسیم کرنا ضرور قابل مذمت ہے
insaftak
Yeh to hona he tha.
@bawa
and that's the problem #1 of Pakistan today. Instead of solving the basic problems of Pakistan the top leadership of Pakistan is focusing on cheap ways to get some publicity and votes i.e BISP & now laptops.
insaftak
and what's up with the people with 60% marks being qualified for the laptops. surely 60% is just not good enough. at least make it 80%+ so it looks that students are actually doing something.
60% is rewarding mediocre students.
Dusky
Agree with Bawa, it's all about priorities: For someone who can barely pay the fee, laptop is a luxury he can live without.
SultanAliKhan
@Siddiqi
I am not cut ou for any active part in any political party, much less in Pak's. I m more like of drawing room critics who never cast vote yet want everything to be done according to their wishes....lolll....however this time around i intend to cast my vote no matter what, have already made a NICOP for that and am even ready to travel should time so demand. As for no howler for a long time, well, first thanks for missing an opponent....loll....secondly I got overly busy with the project and then travelled Pak last week, and that curtailed my peek-a-boo of pkpolitics.
As for Maryam, bro you know well how a soft corner I always have for meat on two-legs.....lolllll.....I intentionally avoided Maryam out of respect for you. Honest. Well now that you ask for it then I must confess; well, too many beauties and too little time to voyeur.......lol...actually am exploring ways with which to make ex-captain Safdar disappear....the way he is going about these days leads me to believe he will not need my help........loll
Tell me, had you alerted goons of my arrival in Pak last week? Oh boy it was sorta cut and run on my part......lol
For what it is worth, nice to see you still locking horns with freshies and novices.......lol
SultanAliKhan
Maryam Safdar looks stunning and intelligent, but then she speaks.........lol
Marrying bonga like Safdar doesn't bode well for her thinking part, but then again beauties are not renowned for brains........So it makes sense in a SAD way.......lolll
Dusky
@SAK: Agree, I too wonder if Maryam Nawaz got blonde hair....
siddiqi73
@Insaftak,
Bro, you are absolutely on the money there. Governments do engage in such meaningless and nonsensical exercises for the sake of gaining cheap publicity; just as the Punjab Government did back in 1987 by giving a piece of real estate free of cost to a cricketer and made quiet a ruckus about it to garner political projection and pomp. Reminiscent to what some people have done with their laptops, this cricketer also ended up selling up that piece of land and pocketing the money.
abdulhameed
@Sid
Bhai, I guess he donated that plot to hospital.
asif65
صدیقی بھائی ۔
اپ نے یہ تو ضرور سنا ہو گا۔
اعمال کا دارومدار نیتوں پر۔ اگر نیت خراب ہو تو اچھا عمل بھی کوئی فائدہ نہیں پہنچاتا ۔
siddiqi73
@Abdulhameed,
Thanks for the clarification bhaijaan...we are actually not aware as to what needs or motivations some of those students might have had who ended up selling their laptops in the open market.
Just like Imran Khan did not deem it necessary to seek the consent of Punjab government before disposing off his real estate in favour of SKMH, these students did not deem necessary to ask the provisional government whether they should inculcate knowledge out of a computer or sell it off for pittance.
abdulhameed
@Sidd
My apology! I thought we are discussing the intentions of Punjab Govt.
PTISalman.Ali
It is not the actual ACT of selling a laptop, that is concerning, it is the PRICE! Compared to what the Punjab Gov't has paid for the laptops, students are selling them at "throw away" prices.
I think its a luxury and not a necessity to excel in education. This is a universal understanding, even in the first world.
It obviously would have been a bigger boost to our education sector to ensure 100,000+ working, up to date, useful computers in our schools. This entire fasaad, is a concrete example of IGNORING the institutions of education, and was demonstrated by a GEO anchor in the show HUM AWAAM by visiting public/private schools (a few episodes ago)
insaftak
@ sidiqi
to mein nein kaab kaha he ke cricketer ko plot daine waleey baat sahi the. what's wrong is wrong.
insaftak
LOL!
Bawa
مجھے سمجھ نہیں آتی کہ پنجاب حکومت اور حکمرانوں کو ایسے بے وقوفانہ مشورے کون دیتا ہے کہ نوجوانوں میں لیپ ٹاپ تقسیم کرو
لیپ ٹاپ سے صرف ایک فرد بہرہ ور ہوتا ہے. اگر پنجاب کے حکمرانوں میں عقل ہوتی تو وہ لیپ ٹاپ کی بجائے ڈیسک ٹاپ تقسیم کرتے تاکہ ایک کمپیوٹر سے ایک فرد کی بجائے پوری فیملی مستفید ہوتی
لگتا ہے اس سکیم میں بھی انہوں نے لمبا ہی کمشن کھایا ہوگا
short life endless plans
@Bawa
بجلی کی کمی میں شاید لیپ ٹاپ ڈسک ٹاپ سے زیادہ مناسب ہو . میں نہیں جانتا کے لپ ٹاپ کے لئے معاشی حالت کو بھی ملحوظ خاطر رکھا گیا یا نہیں مگر اس بات سے انکار ممکن نہیں کہ وہ طلبا جو واقعی پڑھنا چاہتے ہیں ان کی مدد کے لئے نیٹ پہ کافی مفید مواد موجود ہے. یو کے میں بھی ایک اسی طرح کے منصوبے کے تحت لیپ ٹاپ تقسیم کے گئے پرائمری کی سطح پر. یہاں تو پھر کالج کے طلبا کو دے جا رہے ہیں
abdulhameed
@bawa
bhai ap bohat funny hy.
Bhai,I think they made a decision to gain political advantages, otherwise i being a student know that its more important to have a 3-6 months internship/traineeship instead of a laptop. its hard to get a job or even an interview call without experience.
sipahi
@Haroon-ur-Rashid
"who is corrupt? the one who gave you free laptop (out of taxpayer money) or the one who is selling/buying it in the market?"
As long as awards were given on merit to encourage studies in a trasparent fashion, corrupt are those who are selling laptops in the market.
expakistani
It was a bad planning.... just a show off work, i bet that what happened with " karaza utaro-mulk bachao" thing
Zoab Khan
How much smarter would it have been if Gov't of Punjab would have set up libraries with 1/4 this many laptops so any student could come in and use.
badar
@ Zoab Khan
And when did you and your close-mates last used a library? and for how much time?
Bawa
نوں لیگ پر یہ برا وقت بھی آنا تھا کہ ایک بغیر نام پریس ریلیز کے ذریعے خادم اعلی ا کو خود کو "میر کارواں" کا خطاب دلوانا پڑنا تھا
پتہ نہیں لفافہ جرنلسٹوں کی ساری فوج کہاں مر گئی ہے تو اتنی معمولی خبر بھی اپنے نام سے نہ لگوا سکی اور بے نام پریس ریلیز کا سہارہ لینا پڑا
ڈر
سر پہ گنج ، سخن دل نواز شریف ، جان پر جن
يہي ہے رخت سفر مير کارواں کے ليے
Zoab Khan
badar i was in library tonight. Whats your point?
Put in a library or some kind of institution where kids and families can go, everyone has access and not just the 1000 or so students.
badar
@Zoab
While you were in Library, I was browsing thru research articles on IEEExplore and ScienceDirect on my laptop.
sandman
Watch out for the "laptop police" :)
http://tribune.com.pk/story/360095/punjab-government-to-crack-down-on-sale-of-free-laptops/
But whats odd is that apparently the laptops don't even have Windows pre-installed, but instead have linux (can anyone confirm?)...
I recall reading that according to the bid docs, the specification was to have Windows 7 pre-installed....
They should have checked the specifications when they received the laptops from dell, because linux is much more cumbersome as compared to windows, especailly for the layman user....
runaway
@sandman
Remember these are meritorious students. They will have no trouble with Linux. In fact, they will do revolutionary research and will write their own operating system which would be specialized to their needs
You must log in to post.