ISLAMABAD: An event was organised at the capital’s Serena Hotel to honour Pakistani mountaineers and also highlight the immense talent the country has when it comes to high altitude sport.

Mountaineers, including Sirbaz Khan, Sajid Sadpara, Samina Baig, Nazir Sabir, Ashraf Aman, Mirza Ali Baig, Abdul Joshi and Abdul Jabbar Bhatti, were present on the occasion.

Nepalese Ambassador Tapas Adhikari was also present and exchanged insights with the guests as eight of the 14 eight-thousanders are situated in Nepal.

First Secretary for Political and Public Affairs at the High Commission of Canada and an adventure sports enthusiast Amanda DeSadeleer also attended the event.

The participants observed one minute of silence in honour of Ali Akbar Sakhi who lost his life during his expedition on K2, the legendary Mohammad Ali Sadpara and the recent loss of Mohammad Hassan.

While Samina Baig encouraged more women to take up mountaineering, Nazir Sabir said he was pleased to see veteran and aspiring climbers at the event. He said mountaineering demanded extreme concentration and dedication.

He said the future of mountaineering in Pakistan was bright.

Nazir Sabir and Ashraf Aman shared their inspirational stories to motivate the aspiring mountaineers in attendance.

Aziz Boolani, CEO of Serena Hotels, said its adventure diplomacy initiative had always been active in supporting mountaineers and other high-altitude sports in Pakistan.

Serena Hotels sponsored Samina Baig for her early summits when there was little to no support available to the mountaineering community.

“Samina Baig went on to summit the world’s top seven, starting from Mount Everest to K2. She was awarded the Pride of Performance in 2015 along with her brother Mirza Ali Baig.”

Sirbaz Khan, another renowned high-altitude mountaineer, who has summated 12 of 14 eight-thousanders was another adventure sportsman who devoted his earlier achievements to Serena Hotels due to its patronage.

He was among the few who did so without the use of supplementary oxygen which was an extraordinary feat.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2023