Team Al-Biruni, comprising four higher education students from the field of chemical and biological sciences, won the final round of the Diamond Jubilee Quiz Competition held at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, on Tuesday.
Team Al-Biruni, comprising Wahidullah, Muneeb Ali, Muhammad Awais, and Muhammad Shahzad, secured first position and won a cash prize of Rs50,000. Meanwhile, Team Al-Khwarizmi, comprising Rabia Sultan, Areeba Kanwal, Tahreem-us-Sama, and Maria Afridi, secured second position and received Rs20,000.
The winning team outperformed 16 students divided into four groups in the final round. Overall, 100 students participated in the two earlier rounds of the quiz competition organized by ICCBS, University of Karachi, as part of its Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The contestants representing the other finalist teams, Team Ibn Sina and Team Ibn Al-Haytham, included Aqsa Ahmed, Muhammad Kashif, Ayesha Sikandar, Usama Bin Sohail, Dileep Kumar, Ihsan Ali, Fatima Zahid, and Yahya Sifan Ahsan Wahan, respectively.
Coordinator General of OIC-COMSTECH, Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, was the chief guest, while Aziz Jamal, Chairman of the Husein Ebrahim Jamal Foundation; Ms. Nadira Panjwani, Chairperson of the Dr. Panjwani Memorial Trust; and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah, Director of ICCBS and UNESCO Chair holder, attended the event as guests of honour.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Iqbal Choudhary appreciated the ICCBS administration for organizing such a valuable knowledge-based event for students and praised the contestants for their enthusiasm toward learning. Referring to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, he applauded the untiring efforts of renowned science leaders, including Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui and Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, in establishing and developing ICCBS into one of the leading modern research institutions in the region. He also acknowledged the support and contributions of the Husein Ebrahim Jamal Foundation and the Dr. Panjwani Memorial Trust toward the development of the international center at the University of Karachi.
Prof Muhammad Raza Shah reminded participants about the humble beginnings of ICCBS, saying that the center started from a single room in the Department of Chemistry and has now become one of the largest research establishments in the region. He also thanked the donors of ICCBS for their generous contributions and paid tribute to Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui and Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman for their remarkable services to the institution.
Ms Nadira Panjwani highlighted the importance of quiz competitions in academic environments and said that such activities enhance students’ knowledge and mental abilities. She noted that quiz competitions play a vital role in educational institutions by promoting knowledge, critical thinking, and healthy competition among students. She also commended the ICCBS Director and his team for organizing such a healthy academic activity at the center.
Aziz Jamal said that ICCBS carries a rich legacy of education, inquiry, and research, adding that the center grew from modest beginnings into a major institution over time. He noted that ICCBS later established several research centers, including the LEJ. Nano Technology Center, under its umbrella at the University of Karachi. He expressed hope that the quiz competition would further encourage students’ passion for knowledge and excellence. In the end, certificates were distributed among the contestants.