Key Takeaways
- Eight members of a Pakistani expedition team successfully summited Broad Peak.
- A group of women climbers reached the summit of Khosar Gang, a 6,040-metre peak.
- The achievements aim to promote women's participation in mountaineering and adventure sports.
Eight members of a Pakistani expedition team, including international climber Juan Pablo Toro from Argentina, successfully summited Broad Peak (8,051m) on Sunday. The achievement was announced by Karakoram Expeditions. The team included Ahmad Baig, Rizwan Dad, Waqar Ali, Mansoor Karim, Nawaz Ali Khan, Mirza Ali and Zaman Karim.
The expedition leader, Mirza Ali, led the team from Camp III at 2am on Sunday, reaching the summit at 10pm. The route was a new direct variation, bypassing Section V and the long ridge above Camp IV. According to the statement, this achievement marks a significant milestone in mountaineering history.
Separately, eight women climbers from different regions of Pakistan successfully summited Khosar Gang (6,040m) in a separate expedition launched by the Alpine Club of Pakistan. The climbers were Zeba Batool and Bibi Afzoon from Gilgit-Baltistan, Haiqa Ghazi and Ammara Sharif from Islamabad, Maria Khan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bisma Hassan and Sadia Maqbool from Punjab, and Bibi Malka from Balochistan.
The expedition aimed to promote women's participation in mountaineering, adventure sports, and outdoor leadership. A documentary team accompanied the climbers, including Haiqa Ghazi and Sharukh. The participants were selected through a transparent process by a committee of experienced women mountaineers led by renowned Pakistani climber Naila Kiani.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan General Secretary Ayaz Shugri said, 'Our women climbers have proven that they are fully capable of achieving the highest goals through courage, determination, professionalism and teamwork.' He added that the club would organise the K2 Baltoro Cleanup Expedition in September to promote environmental conservation and responsible mountain tourism.
The achievements highlight the growing interest and capability of Pakistani climbers, both male and female. The Broad Peak expedition was led by high-altitude guides Ali Muhammad Sadpara, Sadiq Hussain Sadpara and Ilyas Hushay, while Qauid Shigri fixed ropes on the peak. These successful summits underscore the potential for further exploration and adventure in Pakistan's mountainous regions.
The women's expedition not only achieved a significant milestone but also set an example of inclusivity and empowerment within the mountaineering community. The Alpine Club of Pakistan’s efforts to promote women in outdoor activities are commendable, as they contribute to the diversification of the climbing community.
'Our women climbers have proven that they are fully capable of achieving the highest goals through courage, determination, professionalism and teamwork.'
Ayaz Shugri, Alpine Club of Pakistan General Secretary
