‘Mountaineering institute to be set up in Skardu’

G-B chief minister says region has abundant potential for climbing.


Shabbir Mir May 16, 2011

GILGIT:


Inspired by Hassan Sadpara’s ascent of Mount Everest, chief minister Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Mehdi Shah said his government will set up an institute in Skardu to promote mountaineering as a sport in the region.


“We will set up a mountaineering institute in Skardu so we can have more people like Sadpara who make us proud,” Shah said on Sunday.

Sadpara, a mountaineer from Skardu, recently scaled Mount Everest without oxygen supply and with little monetary support and training.

“He has demonstrated the potential we have in the country,” Shah said.

The chief minister said G-B possessed immense talent, especially in the field of climbing and mountaineering, but, he added, proper patronage and support was required to polish this talent.

Sadpara shares his surname with a small village in Skardu, home to four peaks above 8,000 meters, including the second highest peak in the world K-2 (8,611 metres), Gasherbrum-I (8,068 metres), Broad Peak (8,048 metres) and Gasherbrum-II (8,035 metres), and several others rising above 7,000 metres.

Meanwhile, the tourism department in Skardu organised a rock climbing competition to mark the event, attended by school and college pupils.

“Climbing rocks and mountains is a part of our lives since we were born amid these peaks,” said Sakhi Hassan, a participant who also works in Khurpa Care that provides training to young climbers.

With some patronage and training, however, we can conquer any peak in the world, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2011.

COMMENTS (4)

Sher Muhammad | 12 years ago | Reply I proud to our National Heros Hassand Sadpar and other young Climber such as Khurpa Care Pakistan Teram.
Khalid Masood | 12 years ago | Reply It is a recognized fact that the development of the youth into good citizens who are knowledgeable, confident, balanced and possess strong character and leadership attributes, calls for the youth to be exposed to, besides the Academic education, other activities particularly sporting activities including Adventure Sports like mountaineering. Mountaineering is not only a source of thrill and joy to climbers and hikers, but also provide valuable opportunities for developing such traits so as to prepare young men for facing challenges against all odds confidently and efficiently while staying away from the menace of terrorism and militancy. I am pleased that some decision makers think like that.
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