The Board of Management (BoM), Quaid-e-Azam House Museum – Institute of Nation Building-constituted as a public / private venture and given legal cover by Sindh Government’s notification, in accordance with Sindh High Court’s Order dated 6th April 2021, organised the “Jinnah Inter-School Declamation Competition 2022” today, at Quaid-e-Azam House Museum (Flagstaff House), Karachi.
It should be noted that after over a decade, the annual popular event for students of Karachi schools was resumed by the Board of Management, Quaid-e-Azam House Museum Institute of Nation Building.
The final round of the Jinnah Declamation Competition 2022 was held on 19 March following two rounds for the selection of finalists on 17 and 18 March in which 29 students participated. Over 65 Karachi-based schools were invited to participate.
Among the 12 finalists were Samia Bint from Mama Parsi School; Abyanuddin Ahmed Ansari from St. Michaels Convent School; Abid Ali from Ida Rieu School; Pratik Harani from St. Pauls High School; Aliya Zehra from Al Murtuza School; Bakhtawar Jahanzeb from PECHS School; Nawal Abbasi from Aisha Bawany Academy; Sabeen Hameed from Bahria College, EABT Majeed Campus; Marium Kapadia from Jaffer Public School; Eman Ali from Bahria College, Karsaz; Munazza Fareed from Sindh Madressatul Islam; Hadiya Iman from Karachi Public School.
The judges were Naseem Liaquat Merchant, The Jinnah Society; Ameena Saiyid, Lightstone Publishers; Aliya Tayabi and Dr Huma Baqai, IBA, Karachi.
The topics for the finalists were: Jinnah’s Pakistan and Pakistan and the Muslim world – Interaction and Benefits. Attractive prizes were given to the first three winning students. First position was awarded to Abid Ali from Ida Rieu School and was given the ‘Jinnah Trophy’ along with Rs. 50,000/- cash prize, books, merit certificate. Second position was awarded to Eman Ali from Bahria College, Karsaz and was given the ‘Jinnah Shield’ along with Rs. 25,000/- cash prize and books. Third position was awarded to Bakhtawar Jahanzeb from PECHS School and was given the ‘Jinnah Cup’ along with Rs. 15,000/- cash prize and books.
All participating students were given certificates of participation while the 12 finalists received certificates of merit. All students present at the venue received complimentary copies of the book on Jinnah, titled ‘Our Quaid’, a brainchild of Liaquat Merchant, Jinnah’s grand nephew, written for primary school pupils by Amina Azfar and published by Lightstone Publishers with a Foreword by Mrs. Nadira Panjwani from Panjwani Charitable Foundation & Trust.
Introduction by Ameena Saiyid, was presented to all the students at the event. Students, Parents, Teachers and Principals were present at the event.
The Guest of Honour, Mr Mohsin Nathani, Head of Habib Metropolitan Bank, the main sponsor mingled with the children and took pictures with the winners. Mr Liaquat Merchant, Senior Vice-Chairman BoM, Mr Ikram Sehgal, Chairman PathFinder Group and Ameena Saiyid, Lightstone Publishers also spoke.
The event was sponsored by Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited, The Jinnah Society and Karachi Council on Foreign Relations. It will become an annual event at the Quaid-e-Azam House Museum in addition to other nation-building activities for students. A similar event will be arranged for students in Urdu and Sindhi.
