Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday approved a major package of education reforms, including free Google certification courses and electric bus facilities for college students.

The decisions were taken during a special meeting chaired by the chief minister to review progress on projects in the school and higher education sectors.

Under the initiative, more than 100,000 students across Punjab will receive free certification courses in collaboration with Google. The courses, which typically cost between $400 and $1,000, will be offered free of charge.

Fields covered include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and business intelligence, with course durations ranging from three to six months.

The meeting also approved the provision of electric bus facilities for college students and introduced a standardisation framework for colleges across the province for the first time.

Under the Honhaar Scholarship Programme, more than 62,000 students will receive stipends, with the chief minister directing that all eligible candidates be included.

Separately, Maryam Nawaz took notice of a robbery incident in Lahore and directed police to ensure the immediate arrest of the suspect, stressing that the safety of women must be guaranteed.