Higher Education Commission, Islamabad has undertaken a number of initiatives to promote extra-curricular activities at university/DAI campuses including All Pakistan Inter-University Declamation Contest for Award of "Allama Iqbal Shield" as an annual activity with the objectives to:
- Enhance Public speaking skills and sparking healthy positive competition.
- Develop understanding of socio-economic, cultural and political issues among the students all over Pakistan.
- Divert energies of students towards healthy activities and creative thinking.
- Encourage tolerance, non-violence, and respect for others opinion among the students.
The contest is first organized at the universities level wherein students from all the departments of all public & private universities and constituent colleges take part. 1st, 2nd and 3rd position holders at university level (each in English and Urdu) receive cash prizes of Rs.5,000/-, 3,000/- and 2,000/- respectively.
Second round is organized at Regional level in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and Islamabad (for Federal, AJK, FATA/Gilgit-Baltistan, Universities). 1st , 2nd and 3rd position holders at regional level (each in English and Urdu) receive cash prizes of Rs.15,000/-, 10,000/- and 8,000/- respectively.
Three top scorers of both Urdu and English contest take part in Final/National Round organized in HEC
Islamabad. The winners of the final competition both in Urdu and English are given the "Allama Iqbal Shield" and 1st , 2nd and 3rd position holders (each in English and Urdu) receive cash prizes of Rs.100,000/ ,75,000/- and 50,000/- respectively. For encouragement of students, every contestant is given a certificate and replica of the Shield.
Tentative schedule for holding the 20th All Pakistan Inter University Declamation Contest for Award of
"Allama Iqbal Shield" is as under:
1. First Round (Intra-University Level) February 2018 – March 2018
2. Second Round (Regional/Provincial Level) July 2018 – August 2018
3. Final Round (National Level) September-2018