LAHORE: The two-day Annual Internal Debates 2018 held by the Government College University (GCU) Debating Society concluded on Wednesday.

The proposition in the English category was: ‘There is no place for censorship in democracy’. Ahmed Sultan was declared the best English speaker, while Shahjahan Tahir and Zainab Talat won the second and third positions, respectively. Taqveem Ashraf bagged the consolation prize.

In the English humorous category, the speakers spoke on ‘We think too much, and feel too little’. Syed Ali Sherdil was awarded the first position, while Taqdees Fatima stood second.

In the Urdu category, the motion was ‘Mohabbat Ameeron Ki Baazi Hai’. GCU orator Amna Ghafoor was declared the best Urdu speaker. Hassan Ijaz and Ahmed Raza shared the second position, while Salyha Mohsin won the third position.

In the Urdu humorous category, the speakers delivered some amusing speeches on ‘Chanda Tohri Chandani Mein, Chanda Dia Jaye Na’. Aliyan Hussain was declared the Best Urdu humorous speaker, while Fahadul Shabbir and Khubaib Talib won the second and third positions, respectively. Muhammad Shahbaz won the consolation prize.

In the Punjabi category, the speakers spoke on ‘Andar Bhareya Naal Paleeti’. Waqas Ahmed clinched the Best Punjabi speaker, while Sultan Altamash and Tauseef Mahmood won second and third positions, respectively.

Academic Courses: The University of Okara Academic Council on Wednesday decided to start new academic programmes in the varsity.

The 16-member council met in the varsity and agreed to set up a Centre for Research on Contemporary Socioeconomic and Cultural Issues to conduct regular research projects on different social and cultural variables of the city and its surrounding towns and villages.

The council also recommended starting Urdu, Law and Islamic Studies programmes in the city campus from the spring session and also new academic programmes of BS in Public Health, Biology, Biotechnology and Microbiology.

Considering the high number of applications received for the current academic session, the council proposed increasing seats if sufficient teaching staff and resources were available.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2018