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Debating team leaves for US

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: A 7-member Pakistani debating team left for Pittsburgh, USA, on Thursday to participate in the 10th World Debating Championship being held there from January 29.

Pakistan has been participating in the World Debating Championship for the past nine years and has achieved a number of successes. For seven consecutive years, it won the title of 'World Champions' among countries that do not have English as their native language, which is unprecedented. It also reached in the finals of the World Open Championship in 1994 and 1996.

The present team comprised five students, Omar Shahab, Asad Ahmad, Shahpor Kabraji, Sufian Sultan and Asfand Qureshi. Razi-ud-Din Shaikh, President of the Pakistan Debating Society, will lead the team, who will also attend the meeting of the World Debate Council.

The team called on the Punjab Governor Lt. Gen. Mohammad Safdar (Retd) a day earlier, who donated Rs 100,000 towards the expenses of the team.