ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Wednesday organised the 19th All Pakistan Inter-University Declamation Contest.
The contest comprised of three rounds played by competing teams every year. The first round of competition was organised at different universities, wherein, students from all public and private sector universities and colleges took part.
In the second round, winners of the first round competed at the regional level, after which the winners had to compete on the national level in the final round to win the prestigious Allama Iqbal shield.
The closing ceremony held at HEC Secretariat included awarding of prizes to winners of the National Essay Competition organised by the HEC in collaboration with the Ministry of Federal Education to mark the 70th Independence Day of Pakistan.
Minister of State for Ports and Shipping Chaudhry Jaffar Iqbal was chief guest on the occasion, while HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, HEC Operations and Planning member Dr Raza Bhatti, HEC Director General Academics Raza Chohan, vice chancellors of universities, faculty members, and a large number of university and college students were also present at the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Jaffar Iqbal said that the competition reminded him of his student life, while adding that such competitions boosted self-confidence among students which was a very important part of life. He said that universities were responsible for identifying hidden talents of students in the form of extra-curricular activities.
The minister reminded students of the hardships of life before the partition of the Indian subcontinent, informing them that they lived in a sovereign country which had all latest facilities to enhance the knowledge and learning experience of students.
In his welcome address, Dr Mukhtar said that since the formation of the HEC in 2002, the commission had not only focused on promotion of higher education, qualitative research, and equitable access, but also on extracurricular activities.
Congratulating winners and participants of the declamation contest, he urged teachers, parents and society as a whole to pay due attention to the training of youth, apart from supporting their academic endeavours.
The HEC chairman said that the objective of these contests was to promote communication skills and critical thinking among the students to encourage tolerance, respect for others’ point of view, and enhance understanding of socio-economic and political issues among students of various regions of Pakistan.
Allama Iqbal Open University Vice Chancellor Dr Shahid Siddiqui chaired the Urdu debate contest. In his address, he told students that he had learned so many new things from the event after witnessing students challenge societal stigmas with their positivity and strong views.