29/06/2026
IUB Character Building Society , in collaboration with the Rise And Rights Initiative - RRI and the Literary and Debating House, University of the Punjab, successfully organized an insightful webinar on "The Art of Public Speaking: Excelling in Debates and Declamations" on 28 June 2026 via Google Meet.
The session was honored by the presence of our distinguished guest speaker, Advocate Hanzala Zameer, an accomplished advocate, debater, and public speaker. We were also privileged to have Prof. Dr. Zia-ur-Rehman, Chairman, Department of Quranic Studies and Advisor to the IUB Character Building Society, as our honorable guest.
The webinar was organised under the leadership of Mr. Saad Aslam, Founder of the Rise and Rights Initiative and President of the IUB Character Building Society. Through his continued efforts, he remains committed to promoting youth development, legal awareness, women empowerment, and leadership opportunities for students.
During the session, Advocate Hanzala Zameer shared his inspiring journey of becoming a public speaker, emphasizing that great speakers are first great listeners. He explained how confidence is developed through continuous learning, practice, and effective communication, highlighting that listening is one of the most important elements of impactful speaking.
The speaker provided a clear distinction between speech, declamation, and debate. He explained that a speech is a monologue, declamation requires creating realistic scenarios to engage the audience emotionally, while debate demands presenting well-reasoned arguments both in favor of and against a motion.
Participants also learned the importance of selecting the right topic, exploring its different dimensions, supporting arguments with facts, evidence, citations, and logical justification. He emphasized that every problem presented should be accompanied by practical solutions. To develop unique content, he encouraged students to cultivate the habit of reading newspapers, books, and other credible sources to broaden their perspective and analytical skills.
While discussing delivery techniques, Advocate Hanzala highlighted the significance of clear pronunciation, voice modulation, clarity of expression, and audience engagement. He stressed that confidence is not about speaking loudly but about speaking with purpose, control, and conviction. He also recommended watching The Great Debaters as an excellent learning resource for aspiring speakers and debaters.
The webinar concluded with an engaging Question & Answer session, where participants interacted with the guest speaker and gained valuable guidance regarding public speaking, debating, and personal development.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our honorable guest speaker, respected faculty members, collaborating organizations, and every participant who made this webinar a remarkable success. Together, we remain committed to empowering youth through knowledge, leadership, and meaningful dialogue.
