Shaping ideas: Forman Christian College wins ‘Great Debate’

All finalists invited to join BHC’s Youth Advisory Board, a platform aimed at generating debate among youth.

ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner Philip Barton said he hoped that young people of Pakistan would continue to generate a wider conversation about the kind of Pakistan they wanted in 2047, as the date will mark “100 years from the birth of Pakistan”.

Barton expressed these views in a written address on Sunday to participants of the Great Debate award distribution ceremony.

“I believe Pakistan has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape itself to be the kind of country its people want,” he said.

The commissioner added that 2047 will represent a time when “the young people of today will be leading Pakistan, and will have their opportunity to shape the country.”

Gadhaun Aslam from Lahore’s Forman Christian College was declared winner of the debate, which was organised by the British High Commission (BHC) in Pakistan. Aslam was also awarded a scholarship by the commission worth £2,000.

Aslam beat out 11 other finalists, who had all reached the final round after winning four previous rounds of debate competitions in their respective cities. Iza Afridi from Abbottabad’s COMSATS Institute of Information Technology was runner-up. She was awarded a scholarship worth £1,000.

The topics of the debate ranged from the importance of climate change in today’s world to the contribution of sports to a country’s positive international image.



All finalists at the debate were invited to join the BHC’s newly formed Youth Advisory Board, a platform aimed at generating debate among the youth around issues concerning them, and to give advice on the UK’s work on education and engagement with young people in Pakistan.

Speaking at the ceremony, the British Council Pakistan Head Peter Upton said that words have the “ability to shape ideas”, and the event proved that the youth of Pakistan have the skills to determine the future of their country through “peaceful debate”.

Besides the winners, Asfandyar Khan from Islamia College University, Peshawar, received huge applause at the end of round two of the debate. His subtle approach, wrapped in humour, and unique expressions had all the participants in fits of laughter.

Aslam, the winner of the competition, told The Express Tribune that he was surprised by his win. He remarked that he felt his competitor Iza Afridi, the runner up, had likely won the event, given how well her debate had been received by the audience.

Afridi said that she had only come to know of the topics upon reaching Islamabad. She added however that the experience was “spontaneous, yet interesting” nonetheless.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th,  2015.