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The Debating Society of Government College University Lahore cordially invites your institution to participate in the 44th All Pakistan Allama Muhammad Iqbal Bilingual Declamation Contest 2024, which will be held on 11th and 12th of November, 2024. The contest will comprise of two rounds. All speakers will participate in the first round. However, four best teams and two best speakers from both Urdu and English categories will qualify for the final round. Since the speakers selected for the final round will be required to speak on new topics, it is advisable for all the participants to come fully prepared with one speech each for the initial and final rounds. GC University Lahore offers the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Award for the Best English Speaker and Majid Nizami Award for the Best Urdu Speaker of the contest. GC University Lahore will provide boarding and lodging facilities for the outstation teams. You are, therefore, requested to confirm your participation on the prescribed form no later than 28th October 2024. Any queries should be addressed to Mr. M. Siddique Awan (Advisor Students' Affairs: 03363151615 - 03491771375) at university postal address, by fax at 042-99213337, or through e-mail at debatingsociety_gcu@yahoo.com You can register your team through email, but any team failing to produce a nomination letter on the institutional letter head will not be entertained. Looking forward to greeting your team at the contest. 1. Each participating institution is to be represented by a team comprising of two speakers only, one to speak in Urdu and the other in English. One of the speakers is to speak on a serious topic and the other on a humorous one. 2. A speaker may agree or disagree with the topic. The subject matter of the speech based on the logical interpretation of the topic will carry maximum credit in terms of marks. Mere rhetorical content, which is devoid of relevance with the topic and lacks novelty of ideas, will be strongly discouraged. 3. The contest will be spread over two rounds. In the initial round, all teams will participate. Four best teams will be selected for the final round. In addition to them, two best individual speakers from both English and Urdu categories will also qualify for the final round. 4. Those selected for the final round will have to deliver new speeches and will not be allowed to repeat their speeches from the initial round. 5. A speaker will speak for a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 minutes in each round. Marks will be deducted for failing to observe the stipulated time limit. 6. Passing controversial religious or sectarian remarks or using derogatory words against the chair will lead to instant disqualification of the speakers. Participants, humorous speakers in particular, will be disqualified for making any sexist, racist, homophobic, or ethnophobic remarks. In such an event, the speaker may be asked to step down from the podium during the speech. 7. The speakers will be judged on the content of their speeches, their proficiency of the respective language and the response of the audience. 8. Paper reading is not allowed. Those who do so will be disqualified. 9. Speakers should refrain from using excessive Urdu in their English speeches and vice versa. 10. The team that gains the maximum aggregate points will get the team trophy. The two best speakers, from both English and Urdu, will also be awarded prizes. A consolation prize may also be provided. Speakers from GC University Lahore, participating in the contest, will not compete for the prizes. 11. All students must be accompanied by a teacher/chaperone and must be in possession of an authority letter that should be produced at the time of registration, without which the team will not be registered. 12. The decision of the judges will be final. If you do not receive an invite by mail you can send in your email addresses and thus, confirm your participation through email. Those individuals who are not enrolled in any institution will not be entertained. Unions, private teams and individual speakers are not allowed. The host team reserves the right to cancel the registration of any team at any time without citing a reason.