The Higher Education Commission holds an All Pakistan Inter-University Debate Contest for the award of Allama Iqbal Shield. The Debate Contest is held in both English and Urdu languages. The Debate Contest is mainly divided in three rounds. The first round is held at intra-university level, the second round is held at regional/provincial level and the third (final) round is held at national level. The Debate Contest at all levels is held in both English and Urdu languages.
A fixed amount of money is paid to the first, second and third position holders by HEC at all the levels. However, at intra-university level debate the prize money is only given to Public Sector Universities/DAIs by HEC while the Private Sector Universities have to confer the prize money out of their own resources.

  The objectives of the Debate Contest are:

·         To divert energies of students towards healthy activities and creative thinking

·             To promote communication skills and critical thinking among the students.

·             To enhance understanding of socio-economic and political issues among the students of various regions of Pakistan.

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1. All Public and Private Sector Universities of Pakistan chartered three years before announcement of the contest are eligible for the debating contest. 
   
2.  Boys and girls both are eligible.
   
3.   Only Main campus of a University/DAI is eligible to participate.

            1.     First round of the Debate Contest shall be organized by all Public and Private Sector Universities/DAIs.

2.      The panel of judges shall be selected by the University itself.

3.      The topics for the debate shall be selected by the University/DAI keeping in view the national priorities.

4.      The top three winners of the round each in English and Urdu languages shall be awarded cash prizes as per revised or existing rates.

5.      The two top winners of the round (both in English and Urdu) from each University shall qualify for the next round to be organized at Regional level.

1.      The debates in the Second Round shall be organized (both in English and Urdu) on a topic to be given to students two weeks before the event to generate interest towards debate and to make the quality of the speeches more competitive at Regional level.

2.      The Second Round of the Debate Contest shall be organized in the following five regions all over Pakistan:

                                                                          i.                  Balochistan (Quetta)

                                                                        ii.                  Punjab (Lahore)

                                                                      iii.                  Sindh (Karachi)

                                                                      iv.                  Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa (Peshawar)

                                                                        v.                  Federal Capital, FATA, FANA and AJK (Rawalpindi/ Islamabad)

3.      Dates for the Second Round shall be decided by HEC.

4.      Only main campus of a University shall be allowed to take part in the debates.

5.      The topics for the debates shall be decided by HEC.

6.      A panel of three judges shall be decided by the organizers at Regional level.

7.      A lump sum amount of money shall be released to each HEC Regional Centre to meet administrative and other organizational expenses of the round including the prize money and emoluments, etc.

8.      The top three winners (both in English and Urdu) shall be awarded cash prizes as per existing rates.

9.      One top scoring team and one overall winner each in English and Urdu (six students) from each Region shall qualify for the Final Round.

10.  The selection of the teams will be made on the basis of cumulative score of the team member, (both in English and Urdu, separately), followed by selection of one top scoring student, other than the team, both in English and Urdu.

11.  Travelling Allowance (TA) shall be paid to the students coming from other cities @ 1st class A.C. Sleeper return rail fare or Daewoo (or any other bus or wagon) plus DA (Disturbance Allowance) @ Rs. 500/- per head per day (maximum for two days). TA/DA of the accompanying teachers shall be borne by their respective Universities/DAIs.

12.  Teacher In charge accompanying the team(s) and one family member accompanying a female student shall be entitled to boarding/lodging free of charge.

13.  HEC Regional Centre(s) will also serve working Hi-Tea to all participating students, teachers and some selected guests.

1.      The debate competition shall be organized (both in English and Urdu) on extempore basis.

2.      The Final Round shall be held in Islamabad.

3.      The date for the final round shall be decided by HEC.

4.      30 contestants (six from each region) shall take part in the final round.  

5.      The Directors from all HEC Regional Centres and Coordinators from all the regions shall attend the Final Round and the amount involved on account of TA/DA shall be borne by HEC.

6.      The topics for the final round shall be decided by HEC.

7.      A panel of three judges (preferably from different provinces) shall be selected from all over Pakistan by HEC. The Judges at the Regional Level Debate shall not be included for the Final Round. The TA/DA to the Judges will be borne by HEC.

8.      The top three winners shall be given a cash prize of Rs.30,000/-, 25,000/- and Rs.20,000/-, respectively by HEC while every contestant shall be given a certificate and replica of the Shield.

9.      The top three debaters will be selected, both in English and Urdu, for First, Second & Third Prize, respectively while winning team will be announced on the basis of cumulative score of the team members, both in English and Urdu, separately.

10.  The remuneration to members of the different Committees (including Judges, etc.) shall be given at the existing rates.

11.  Travelling Allowance (TA) shall be paid to the students coming from other cities @ 1^st class A.C. Sleeper return rail fare or Daewoo (or any other bus or wagon) plus DA (Disturbance Allowance) @ Rs.500/- per head per day subject to maximum of two days). TA/DA of the accompanying teachers shall be borne by the respective Universities/DAIs.

12.  Teacher In charge accompanying the team(s) and one family member accompanying the female student(s) shall be entitled to boarding/lodging free of charge.

13.  Participants from Balochistan and Sindh provinces shall be allowed boarding/lodging facility for three days while rest of the participants shall be allowed to utilize this facility for two days only.

14.  HEC will also serve working lunch to all participants and guests invited from local universities/colleges/schools while refreshment will be served to the judges and some selected guests.

15. The topics for the speakers of the Final Round will be chosen from the lots and they will start speaking extempore on the allotted topic in both the debates.

16. First speaker of the team will be given topic 3-minutes before the start of the debate while the next shall receive the topic after start of  debate . Each speaker will speak for 3-minutes . First bell will sound after 2-minutes from the start of the speech and the second after 3 minutes. On the second bell, the speaker shall have to leave the rostrum. Excess time taken will lead to negative marking be deducting 5 marks per minute.

17. There will be a panel of 3 Judges for the debabe whose decision shall be final.

18. The Judges can disqualify any speaker , if found using un-parliamentary language, personal remarks and also consulting paper / notes.

19. Order of the universities: Order of debaters of participating universities will be set ALPHABATICALLY Region-wise.

Focal Person

Shafiullah
Deputy Director (Academics)
Higher Education Commission, Islamabad
Phone# 051-90402116
Fax # 051-90402110.
E-mail: sukhan@hec.gov.pk

Focal Persons at Regional Levels 

For Federal Capital (including FATA, Gilgit Baltistan and AJK)

Dr.Safeer Awan

Students Adviser

International Islamic University Islamabad

Phone# 051-9257965 , 9019580

Fax# 051-9258049

E-mail: students.advisor@iiu.edu.pk

 For Sindh 

Mr. Ghulam Hyder
Director
HEC Regional Centre, Karachi
Ph: 021-99231477
Fax: 021-99230290
Mobile: 0300-8297392
E-mail: ghaider@hec.gov.pk

For Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa    

Mr. Moeenuddin Qureshi
Deputy Director
HEC Regional Centre, Peshawar
Ph: 091-9217643
Fax: 091-9217878
Mobile:
E-mail: mqureshi@hec.gov.pk     

For Punjab

Mr. Muhammad Ishaq
Deputy Director (Admin)
HEC Regional Centre, Lahore
Ph: 042-99263092, 99263096
Fax: 042-99263093
Mobile: 0307-4065554
E-mail: mishaq@hec.gov.pk

For Balochistan

Mr.Ahsan Hashmi
Assistant Director
Regional Centre
Higher Education Commission, Quetta
Ph: 081-2844544
Mobile: 0333-7893215
Email: ahashmi@hec.gov.pk