Allama Iqbal bilingual declamation contest

LAHORE
The 35th All Pakistan Allama Muhammad Iqbal Bilingual Declamation Contest began at Government College University (GCU) on Thursday.
According to a press release, the best orators of more than 40 educational institutions from all the federating units of the country are contesting for the coveted trophy at the two-day event spread over three sessions.
GCU Debating Society (GCUDS) President Muhammad Afzal Munir said “Each participant, irrespective of his socio-ethnic roots, has demonstrated great show of talent in the arena of public speaking to mark his/her dominance over others.”
The serious topics that remained closely contested by the teams on the first day were “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” and “Some rise by sin and some by virtue fall”.
In the humorous category, the participants enthralled the audience with their wit and humour particularly on the topics: “It’s a mad, mad world” and “If wish was fish, we’d all cast nets”.
In the Urdu category, the youth punctuated their speeches with fiery verses of Mirza Ghalib, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Habib Jalib.
GCUDS President said the All Pakistan Allama Iqbal Bilingual Declamation Competition had been a regular annual feature of Government College Lahore since 1980.
He further said this year there was a very tough competition among both English and Urdu orators as the Best English Speaker would be awarded with the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Medal and a cash prize of Rs 25,000 while the Best Urdu Speaker would receive the Dr Majeed Nizami Medal. Government College's former Principal late M. A Khan introduced the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Medal with a donation of Rs 500,000 in 2007.