RAWALPINDI: Raja Bashir has become the first Pakistani to conquer a peak as high as 25,400 feet — the Saltoro Kangri. The Pakistani mountaineer was one of the three members of the Pakistan-Japan joint Karakoram expedition to Saltoro, who scaled the peak on July 24. The Japanese conquerors are Dr Saito and Mr T. Tachamura.

The expedition consisted of 10 Japanese from the Kyodo University and two Pakistanis — the other a 19-year-old climber Pervaiz. Two other Pakistani members, Prof Abdul Hamid Beg and Mr Hayat Ahmad Khan, Secretary of the Pakistan Karakoram Club reached camp No 2 (18,000 feet) a short while before the peak was conquered.

The expedition had established five camps at altitudes of approximately 17,500, 18,000, 20,000, 21,500 and 22,500 feet. —Agencies

Too many functions THE West Pakistan Governor, Malik Amir Mohammad Khan, said yesterday that he did not favour waste of money on too many functions in honour of Ministers and other elected representatives.

He said: “Personally, I think, too many invitations should not be accepted.”—Staff Correspondent