HYDERABAD: A prize distribution ceremony was organised by Bureau of STAGS, an institute of the University of Sindh, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The University of Sindh vice chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Muhammad Burfat was the chief guest on the occasion. In his address to the participants, he said that perseverance can lead us towards success and glory. “A man’s worth is contained in his capability to consider failure as an experience, as failures could ignite inextinguishable passion that serve as a driving force towards impossible achievement,” he remarked. “Righteousness, self-confidence and patience are rare virtues that constitute a success,” he said. The University of Sindh is a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic and a multi-cultural institute that acts as a bridge for cross-cultural communities to enhance social harmony. “SU youth are endowed with outstanding curricular and extra-curricular skills,” Dr Burfat said. Regarding world’s youngest Nobel Laureate Malala Yusufzai, Dr Burfat encouraged the students and said “merely a child, a teacher, a book, a pen and a lone voice could bring a social change”. He congratulated all the winners including the team of students of Institute of English Language and Literature. He appreciated STAGS director Dr Sumera Umrani and her team upon the successful completion of a three-day event. He expressed his gratitude to Karachi HEC regional director Javed Ali Memon and Islamabad HEC for collaboration in the given initiative. Javed Ali Memon expressed his views on the occasion and denounced discrimination based on castes, ethnicity, culture and language. He urged for the establishment of the society which would be one indivisible unit. Memon called the concluding event as the first round of 20th debate competition for the award of Allama Iqbal Shield; the second event would be conducted at the provincial level in Karachi and the third at national level in Islamabad. Earlier, the STAGS director welcomed the audience and briefed them about the three-day event. She expressed her gratitude to the jury for English, Urdu and Sindhi performances of the event. The third day of the competitions included debates in the English language in which Tarique Hafeez of IBA got first prize, Saqlain Shah of IELL secured second prize while Sana Sahar of Zoology clinched third prize. Institute of English Language and Literature lifted the champion’s trophy by achieving maximum prizes. IELL director Dr Rafique Ahmed Memon, along with the winner students, received the trophy from the chief guest. Later, Dr Burfat distributed cash prizes, shields and certificates to the winners in English, Urdu and Sindhi debate competitions. University of Sindh Thatta campus pro-vice-chancellor Prof Sarfraz Hussain Solangi, Media Advisor and IELL faculty member Dr Ghulam Ali Buriro and others were also present on the occasion. Prof Muhammad zafar Laghari, Ms Paras Katpar and Muhammad Faaiz Alam were included in the jury to conduct evaluation of student performances. Published in Daily Times, April 27th 2018.