TFD News
KARACHI: The grand finale of the annual and widely acclaimed schools declamation contest for Karachi was held earlier today at the historic Quaid-e-Azam House Museum, drawing students, educators, parents, and members of civil society to an event rooted in national history and civic values. The competition was jointly organised by the Board of Management, Jinnah Society, and the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR).
A total of 34 schools from across Karachi participated in the contest. Following a rigorous two-day elimination process, ten schools qualified for the grand finale. The preliminary rounds were adjudged by Akber Merchant and Sara Daniyal, who shortlisted finalists based on content, clarity, confidence, and articulation.
The schools that advanced to the final round included The City Intermediate College, DHACSS Phase-VIII, The Mama Parsi School, Habib Girls School, Agha Khan School (Morning), Graceful Grammar Higher Secondary School Campus-1, New-Day School, Ida Rieu Blind & Deaf School, BVS Parsi School, and Al-Murtaza School. The diverse participation reflected Karachi’s educational breadth and the inclusive spirit of the competition.
The final round was evaluated by a distinguished jury comprising senior journalist Ghazi Salahuddin, renowned artist and founder of the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture Noorjehan Bilgrami, and Founder Jinnah Foundation Naseem Merchant. The jury commended the high standard of preparation and the thoughtful engagement of students with national themes, noting that the competition reflected a growing awareness among youth of Pakistan’s historical journey and contemporary challenges.
After a closely contested final, Syeda Fatima Zehra of The Mama Parsi School secured first position, Raween Abid of Agha Khan School (Morning) was awarded second place, while Tousif Ahmed of Ida Rieu Blind & Deaf School claimed third position. The winners received trophies and grand prizes amid applause from the audience, with special appreciation extended to all finalists for their confidence, clarity of expression, and command over subject matter.
It is noteworthy that the declamation contest was originally conceived by the Jinnah Society and has been held successfully for over two decades, emerging as a flagship educational and nation-building initiative in the city. Following the transfer of Quaid-e-Azam House Museum to the Sindh Government, its ownership and administrative control were restructured to ensure institutional continuity and broader participation.
Four years ago, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the then Corps Commander Humayun Aziz constituted a Board of Management for the Quaid-e-Azam House Museum. Subsequently, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Sindh Government, the Jinnah Society, and KCFR to jointly oversee the management, programming, and long-term vision of the museum.
The Board of Management comprises 18 members drawn from the Jinnah Society, KCFR, philanthropists, leading citizens, and representatives of the Sindh Government. The three principal functionaries of the Board include Liaquat H. Merchant as Senior Vice Chairman, Ikram Sehgal as Vice Chairman, and Commodore (R) Sadeed Malik as Secretary General. The positions of Chairman and Co-Chairman are ex-officio offices held by the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary Sindh, respectively.
Organisers reiterated that the core objective of the Jinnah Society, KCFR, and the Board of Management of the Quaid-e-Azam House Museum is to promote the vision, principles, and ideals of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah as a structured nation-building exercise. In line with this mission, the Quaid-e-Azam House Museum has been formally designated as an institute of nation-building.
Accordingly, all events hosted at the museum-including the annual declamation contest-are designed to actively engage Pakistan’s youth. With over 50 percent of the country’s population under the age of 30, the organisers emphasised the importance of connecting younger generations with the historical facts surrounding the struggle for independence, the creation of Pakistan, and the aspirations envisioned for the country’s future.
By encouraging students to articulate ideas grounded in history, civic responsibility, and national identity, the declamation contest seeks to inspire a generation committed to peace, progress, and prosperity-ideals shared by Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The successful conclusion of this year’s contest reaffirmed the enduring relevance of these ideals and the vital role of educational initiatives in shaping Pakistan’s future.
