First Pakistanis scale majestic Tirich Mir

Mountaineers Sirbaz Khan and Abid Baig have become the first Pakistanis to summit Tirich Mir, the highest peak of the Hindu Kush.

Under the auspices of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Culture and Tourism Authority, a team of Pakistani mountaineers undertook the daunting challenge to scale Tirich Mir.

Led by K-P Culture and Tourism Authority Director Administration and Finance Umar Arshad Khan, the team included Sirbaz Khan and Abid Baig—both from Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) as well as Dr Naveed Iqbal, Major Muhammad Atif, Shamsul Qamar, and Akmal Naveed.

They were supported by experienced high-altitude porters — Hassan, Shehzad, Younas, and Arif — each with extensive experience at altitudes above 8,000 meters.

Due to severe weather and snowstorms, the remaining five climbers could only reach up to 7,300 meters. However, Sirbaz Khan and Abid Baig managed to successfully summit the 7,708-meter peak.

Umar Arshad Khan described the achievement as historic. He said with the successful summit of Tirich Mir, the world will now turn its attention towards the K-P and the Chitral Valley.

"Tirich Mir is the highest peak of the Hindu Kush. Around the world, a single summit generates millions of dollars in revenue.

"Now, as the youth of Chitral emerge as high-altitude porters, this achievement will not only enhance local income but also play a key role in strengthening the regional economy," he said.

Renowned climber Sirbaz Khan said the three tallest peaks of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalaya ranges will now be globally recognized as the Three Summits.

"I am proud to have achieved the honor of scaling all three. Compared to other peaks, Tirich Mir is particularly challenging.

"By organizing this summit, the K-P government and the Culture and Tourism Authority have placed Tirich Mir as a new global target for mountaineers.