ISLAMABAD (Agencies) Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will give more than five hundred awards in twelve different categories to its employees, students and tutors. This was announced by Prof. Dr. Nazir Ahmed Sangi, Vice-Chancellor, Allama Iqbal Open University while addressing as a chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony of All Pakistan AIOU Students Inter Regional Grand Competitions-2011. AIOU is spreading quality education from Matric to Ph.D level in different disciplines across the country at affordable admission fee to eradicate illiteracy from the country. Dr. Sangi said the people living in some backward areas cannot pay even less amount of admission fee of AIOU and the university has set up Student Support Fund to facilitate the underprivileged people. The people from inside and outside the country can contribute in the Student Support Fund. The university will also arrange the contest in far flung and backward areas and provide opportunity to the students in different cities. Dr. Sangi said that AIOU will provide fee concession to award winners. He said that the contests were held to raise the consciousness to eliminate the terrorism, uplifting knowledge and harmony. Director, Student Advisory and Counselling Services Syed Zia-ul-Hasnain Naqvi said AIOU has arranged co-curricular activities for the students despite economic limitations. He said that the winners who stood first, second and third in the grand competitions-2011 from across the country would be sent to participate in the contests with the students of other institutions/universities. According to result of the grand competitions-2011, in the contest of Urdu Speech, Muhammad Waqas Bashir (Islamabad Region), Shamsa Jalal (Karachi Region) and Ghaffar Ahmed (DG Khan Region) stood first, second and third respectively. In the contest of English Speech, Azam Mushtaq (Karachi Region), Saba Younus (Lahore Region) and Madiha Umer (Faisalabad Region) stood first, second and third respectively. In national songs competitions, Muhammad Waseem Bashir (Rawalpindi Region), Mehreen Malik (Sargodha Region) and Afshan Saddiqi (Karachi Region) stood first, second and third. In the competition of Husn-e-Qiraat, Muhammad Rajab Ali (Karachi Region), Muhammad Bilal (Rawalpindi Region) and Sadia Saeed (DG Khan Region) stood first, second and third. In Naat contests, Muhammad Abdul Ghani (Multan Region), Sadia Akram (Rawalpindi Region) stood first and second while Sobia Andaleeb (Islamabad Region) and Mehreen Malik (Sarghoda Region) declared third. In painting competition, Syeda Nadia Raza (Islamabad Region), Qisra Parveen (Lahore Region) and Khalid Hussain (Rawalpindi Region) stood first, second and third respectively.