The Great Debate: Islamia College student talks himself into a win

Will face off with 11 competitors in next round.

PESHAWAR: Islamia College bagged The Great Debate competition organised by Institute of Management Sciences, in collaboration with British High Commission, at its campus on Monday.

According to event organiser Dinar Wali, the British High Commission launched a nationwide Great Debate Competition. The purpose was to engage students from across Pakistan and present them an opportunity to debate on current affairs topics related to the development of the country.



“The Great Debate will also serve as a platform to foster UK and Pakistan’s shared interests in vibrant discussion and intellectual debates,” said Wali.

The competition has been previously held in 10 other cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Peshawar was the second last city to host the competition and will be followed by Gujrat. A winner is chosen from each city and all of them will compete against each other in the grand finale in Islamabad.

The ultimate winner will be awarded a British High Commission Scholarship.

Point of information

IMSciences Director Dr Muhammad Mohsin Khan inaugurated the event and welcomed the participants. He thanked the British High Commission for choosing the institute to host the Peshawar leg of the competition.



The entire event spanned six hours during which gruelling discussions tested the knowledge and oratory skills of the participants.

Muhammad Asfandyar Khan, a 17-year-old first year premedical student of Islamia College, bagged the debate competition. According to Asfandyar, “This is my first such experience. I have competed in similar competitions, but they were all when I was younger,” he said. “I am eager to face the winners of the other cities in the grand finale in December. This has been an excellent effort by the British High Commission and I look forward to more such competitions. ”

Attaullah, a student of IMSciences, clinched second spot while a total of sixteen students from across K-P contested the debate. Students from across the province came to take part in the competition which focused on the issues faced by Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2015.