Inter Collegiate Bilingual Declamation Contest 2013 was held at Defence Degree College on Thursday. Students of more than fifteen leading educational institutions of the city took part in the contest. Former Sindh secretary education Mehtab Akbar Rashidi was the chief guest on the occasion. Rashidi said although the present national scenario was depressing, the new generation constituted a ray of hope and optimism for a bright future of the country. She added that students had immense potential and the ability to move forward with determination, vigour and vision to change the destiny of the nation. The chief guest said oratory is a great art and weapon whose effective use could change the destiny of nations and bring a vivid transformation in the lives of people. She said declamation contests play an important role in development of personality, confidence and versatility in a person. She added that such literary events inculcate a spirit of competition in students and equip them with tools to deal with intricate problems of life effectively.