Foreign climbers come after virus threat ebbs in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD:

The first foreign expedition team of this summer have arrived in Pakistan to ascend 6500-metre high peak in Shimshal Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan, a top official of Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) said.

"The five-member outfit is led by renowned German climber Felix Berg,” Karrar Haidri, Secretary ACP said.

According to Haidri the unnamed mountain was located in an open area of Shimshal Valley and was hitherto unclimbed. "The Germans will be making its first ever climb," he said.

Haidri said that since the outbreak of Covid-19 it was the first expedition of the year. "Some more European teams are expected to arrive in the next few days as the summer season is ending in September," he added.

Pakistan is home to five of the world's 14 tallest mountains (the eight-thousanders). Besides that, more than 100 peaks above 7,000 metres and as many above 6,000 are located in Pakistan.

Every year, the country entices hundreds of climbers and trekkers from around the world, who aspire to scale its dangerous peaks. But this year the impact of the pandemic has been devastating for mountaineering. "Every year, several foreign mountaineering teams arrive in the country, which create profitable jobs for hundreds of locals in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B). But this year, these people have suffered badly due to the pandemic. "Hopefully, the situation will improve for our people related to the mountaineering." Haidri added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2020.