Mountain festival: Capital’s girls scale rock walls in Margalla

ISLAMABAD: Maham Tariq scrambled up the jagged rock face at the Jasmine  Corner of the Daman-e-Koh in the Margalla Hills National Park as dozens of other young climbers gathered underneath, watching in awe the technique being employed by her to make it to the top.

The strenuous exercise was part of a rock climbing event on Saturday to kick off the 6th annual Pakistan Mountain Festival, held to commemorate International Mountain Day.

The week-long festival has been organised by the Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan), and Saturday’s rock climbing event at Daman-e-Koh was organised in collaboration with the Adventure Club.

The event was held to allow youngsters to explore their potential and to challenge themselves in a rough environment. While those having experience with climbing tried to clamber up the rock face, those who were new were given the basic lessons on climbing.

After expertly managing her way up the rock face, Tariq said rock climbing helps boost her confidence and prepare her for untoward situations.

Saba Nazir, one of the climbers, said that parents  usually do not allow their daughters to take up sports such as rock climbing , adding that girls should be given equal opportunities play all types of sports.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2016.