The British High Commission held the first semi-final event of its fourth annual Great Debate competition at the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) in Karachi. The competition featured students from 16 universities in Karachi and was attended by senior members of academia and the media. At the end of an intense competition, Abdul Rafey from Tabani’s School of Accountancy was the winner while Muhammad Ammar Abbasi was the runner-up. The Great Debate competition will take place from December 2018 to February 2019 in five cities across Pakistan. Building from the success of the competition in the previous three years, this year’s debating events have expanded to include an event in Quetta. The British Deputy High Commissioner and Trade Director for Pakistan Elin Burns said, “In the last three years, through the Great Debate we have engaged thousands of students in universities and colleges across nine cities in Pakistan. The ability to debate and discuss ideas and challenges is important, and I have been privileged to see the quality and enthusiasm of this year’s competitors who represent the talent and potential of Pakistan’s young people,” she said. The themes for this year’s Great Debate competition are trade, innovation and business which are so important for the United Kingdom and Pakistan,” said Burns. Published in Daily Times, December 11th 2018.