PESHAWAR:
In a historic first for the country, Pakistani climbers Sirbaz Khan and Abid Baig have successfully scaled Tirich Mir, the highest peak of the Hindu Kush range, standing tall at 7,708 meters.
The expedition, organized under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Culture and Tourism Authority, set out with a team of seasoned mountaineers led by Umar Arshad Khan, the authority’s Director of Administration and Finance. Alongside Sirbaz and Abid, the group included Dr. Naveed Iqbal, Major Muhammad Atif, Shamsul Qamar, and Akmal Naveed. A team of experienced high-altitude porters Hassan, Shehzad, Younas, and Arif provided critical support, each bringing years of experience on peaks above 8,000 meters.
Harsh weather and fierce snowstorms forced five climbers to halt their ascent at 7,300 meters. However, Sirbaz Khan and Abid Baig pressed on, becoming the first Pakistanis ever to stand atop Tirich Mir’s summit.
Calling the achievement “historic,” Umar Arshad Khan said the successful climb would bring global attention to K-P and the scenic Chitral Valley.
“Tirich Mir is not just the crown of the Hindu Kush, it is also a source of economic opportunity,” he remarked. “Worldwide, a single summit attracts millions of dollars in revenue. With local youth now emerging as high-altitude porters, this milestone can uplift incomes and boost the regional economy.”
Sirbaz Khan, already celebrated for his climbs in the Karakoram and Himalayas, expressed pride at completing what he termed the “Three Summits” of Pakistan’s great mountain ranges.
“Tirich Mir is among the most demanding peaks I have ever faced,” he said. “But thanks to the support of the K-P government and the Culture and Tourism Authority, this mountain is now firmly on the global map for climbers.”
