LAHORE - The last round of series of Chief Ministers essay-writing and speech contests both in English and Urdu languages of all institutions including medical, technical colleges, government and private universities, and sports competitions from primary to degree level commenced here on Friday. It will conclude on January 11. Similar competitions at district and divisional level were conducted during the past four weeks. While the district level prize distribution was held last week, the prize distribution for divisional level winners will be held in all divisions on January 3. This year the sports and debate contests were specially organised to provide an opportunity to students to show their talent in extra curricular activities vital for their development and capacity building. It also aimed at encouraging students to adopt healthy activities. A sum of Rs170 million has been allocated for cash prizes to the winners while special teams of teachers, government officials were formed under the supervision of EDOs Education of all districts, and the DPI colleges to conduct massive activities which began in early December. The sports competitions were being organised from tehsil to provincial level. The prizes were given away to winners of district level competitions at all districts. A sum of Rs20,000 to Ist position holder, Rs15,000 to second and Rs10,000 to third were given. At divisional level, the prizes range from Rs30,000, Rs25,000 and Rs20,000 for Ist, 2nd and 3rd position holders respectively. As many as 108 students will be awarded cash prizes. The activities continued without disrupting the academic activities while the competitions were witnessed by a large number of students. The competitions of Lahore district and division were held at Government College for Boys, and Postgraduate College for Girls, Wahdat Road, and at Central Model School, Rattigan Road. Prizes to Lahore district winners were given at a ceremony chaired by MPA Adnan Usman, Chairman Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education, Prof Dr M Akram Kashmiri, Director Colleges Zafar Inayat. Additional Secretary Prof M Akram Chaudhry and Prof Shahid Chaudhry were present. The prize distribution for divisional level competitions will be held on January 3. According to reports, students of Lahore were shinning at district and Division level competitions. The Government MAO college students alone bagged 13 positions in the competitions. Hafiz Mohammad Faisal of B-Com Part II secured Ist prize in Urdu debate at both district and division level at Intermediate level. Safdar Hassan Naqvi of I.Com Part I secured 2nd and 3rd prizes at district and division level in Intermediate English debate. Syed Mujtaba Tanveer Naqvi got 3rd prize in Urdu debate at district level and Wahab Ahmad of B-Com Part II secured Ist prize in Urdu debate at degree level and third prize in Urdu debate at division level. Principal Prof Zafar ul Mohsin Pirzada has congratulated the students who won the prizes and said that the MAO College was not only shinning in academic but in extra-curricular activities.