Imposter govt website targets Pakistan online users with free laptop offer
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The post also includes a picture of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif next to students holding laptops, with a text overlay that reads: "Prime Minister's Youth Laptop Scheme 2025. Bringing yet another 100,000 laptops."
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Screenshot taken on March 4, 2025 of the false Facebook post
Pakistan's Geo TV news media earlier debunked similar claims that also surfaced elsewhere Facebook and on X (archived link).
, the state-owned
But it is currently not accepting applications, digital media executive at the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, told AFP on March 11. The next phase is "likely to begin after a few weeks," he said.
The official site for the programme indicates it is not taking in new applications as of March 13, 2025.
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Screenshot comparison of the fake registration page (left) and the Pakistani government website (right)
Moreover, the genuine page for Pakistan's youth programme uses the "gov.pk" domain. But the link in the false posts is hosted on a URL that ends in .xyz (archived link).
AFP has repeatedly debunked false posts spreading bogus government handouts.
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