‘Pakistan’s Golden Thrones’: A rocky love story reaches new peaks

Mountaineer and photographer Tommy Heinrich’s book launch for local literati.

ISLAMABAD:

Tommy Heinrich’s love story with the mountain ranges of Pakistan is a rocky one. A photographer, mountaineer and now author of the book “Pakistan’s Golden Thrones”, Heinrich does not require any introduction.

Having a difficult first climb, Heinrich has made six trips to Pakistan to climb its beautiful 8,000 metre and higher peaks. His book, featuring images from Gilgit-Baltistan, is the first of its kind to be published by the Argentine embassy, under the guidance of Ambassador H E Rodolfo J Martin-Saravia. The book has been commissioned in association with BF Biosciences Limited, Pakistan’s first biotech pharmaceutical manufacturing company.

After its launch at the Governor House Lahore on June 5, the Argentine embassy hosted a launch in Islamabad for the local literati on Monday. Ferozsons President Osman Waheed, Capital Development Authority Chairperson Imtiaz Inayat Elahi and Politician Sardar Asif Ali were part of the panel to introduce Heinrich.

Heinrich said, “Pakistan has become a very special place for me and I have made great friends here.” Expressing his love for Pakistan and the generous nature of its people, he added, “People might be sceptical on getting to know Pakistanis, but what they don’t know is that once a Pakistani opens his heart, it’s huge!”

“The book,” he explained, “is not about the images, rather about the people and the journey.”

Addressing the audience, Ambassador Martin-Saravia thanked BF Biosciences for their collaboration and support with the project and said the book is a tribute to Pakistan’s 60 years of friendship with Argentina. “Argentina has been by Pakistan’s side since the very beginning and will stay by its side for a long time to come,” he said.

The audiences enjoyed the beautiful photograph display over cocktail and were able to chat with the author to listen to firsthand accounts of his latest climb of K2.

Praising the ambassador for his efforts, Sardar Asif Ali said, “The ambassador makes us feel as if Argentina is around the corner.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2011.