Poetry, story writing competitions held

Rawalpindi: Government Postgraduate College for Women, Satellite Town conducted an English poetry and story writing competitions along with ‘Punjabi Taakra’ competition here on Wednesday.

The event started with the recitation of Holy Quran. Raja Qasim Akhtar and Dr. Naheed Qadir were the chief guests on the occasion. The judges for the English poetry and story writing competitions were Amna Ayaz, Ambreena Qayyum, Dr. Uzma Anjum and Dr. Jameel Asghar Jaami while Parveen Rathore, Samya Latif and Farheen Ahsan were the judges for ‘Punjabi Taakra’ competition.

According to the final decision of the judges, for story writing competition, Rikza Arif (Govt. Postgraduate College S/Town) got 1st position, Iqra Maqsood (Bilquis Postgraduate College, Noor Khan) got 2nd position, Hafsa Gul (Waqar-un-Nisa College) got 3rd position and Maheen Anwar (Postgraduate College, F-7/2, Islamabad) got the consolation prize.

For poetry writing competition, Anisa Sohail (Arid Agriculture University) got 1st position; Hajra Mahnoor (Bilquis Postgraduate College, Noor Khan) got 2nd position while Fatima Rafeeq (Postgraduate College, F-7/2, Islamabad) got 3rd position.

The result for ‘Punjabi Taakra’ competition was that Farah Yasmin (Govt. Postgraduate College for Women, S/Town) got 1st position, Sidra Amin (Virtual University) got 2nd position, Maryam Khatoon (Waqar-un-Nisa College) got 3rd position and Zofishan Irum received the consolation prize. At the end, the chief guests and the principal of the institute addressed the students and appreciated the participants.

Children participate in activities: A private school, F-8 branch organised various activities to show solidarity with Kashmiri brethren in which all the children actively participated. Heart warming speeches were made and slogans were chanted by all the students, demanding an end to illegal Indian occupation of Kashmir and immediate resolution of the Kashmir crisis in accordance with the UN resolution. The highlight of the Kashmir day function was a fancy dress show in which the participants wore numerous Kashmiri dresses and sang Kashmiri songs

The parents of the students highly appreciated the untiring efforts of the whole management with special reference to the dynamic leadership of headmistress Marium Jamshaid who helped organise the event.

Meanwhile, student organised a one-day students’ event to promote extracurricular activities here on Wednesday at G-7/4 campus. Students participated in the event and organised different food stalls, art gallery, painting competition and other sports activities.

Hassan Muhammad Khan, chancellor, RIU was the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of the event. On this occasion he appreciates the efforts of student’s services department and student’s body on organising the event. He spoke on the importance of co-curricular activities in educational institutions. He said that these activities help in character building of students and RIU is taking positive steps to promote extracurricular activities at its campuses.

Dr. Anwar ul Haq – Deputy Vice Chancellor, Engr. Asadullah Khan, Executive Director Islamic International Medical College Trust, Faculty & Management of Islamic International Dental College, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Rehabilitation Sciences grace the event with their presence. Arabic resource centre: The Arabic Resource Centre on the women's campus of the International Islamic University (IIU) was inaugurated here on Wednesday by wife of the Naval Chief, Begum Shaheena Abbasi, who also announced one hundred thousand rupees for the facility.

The centre will teach for Arabic phonics, reading and writing skills, Arabic comprehension and grammar and creative writing in audio visual classes. The inauguration ceremony, in the presence of IIU Rector Dr Masoom Yasinzai was addressed by Begum Shaheena Abbasi, who said promotion of Arabic was the constitutional responsibility.

She added that the inclusion of Arabic language as compulsory subject at school level could help in introducing students to religion and history in further efficient manner.

She said Pakistan Navy had made Arabic compulsory until elementary level in its school system. She said Pakistan Navy was also establishing new Quran centres in its residential areas. IIU Rector Dr. Masoom Yasinzai said on the occasion that love for Arabic in Muslims was a natural thing because it owns the legacy and it was as well language of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and the Holy Quran.

He said love for Arabic doubled the love for religion and made things of Islam more understandable. He hailed the Arabic faculty for establishing the centre and directed to establish a lab for Arabic language students.

He reiterated his resolve that the IIU would keep disseminating message of Islam. The IIU rector briefed that university was helping poor students of various countries through scholarships and added that they would be allowed to be inducted in Arabic language programmes as well.

Dr. Aliya Akram, chairperson of the department, apprised about the objectives and vision of the department in her speech. She also briefed about the importance of centre and its future plans. The ceremony was also attended by Dean Arabic, Dr. Muhammad Bashir, foreign and local faculty members and female students.