ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani climbers has successfully re-scaled the historic Phargam-on-Pass in the Hindu Kush mountain range after a gap of 27 years, marking a milestone achievement in the country’s mountaineering history.
The team reached the summit of the 5,100-meter-high pass in Upper Chitral. For the first time, female climbers successfully reached the top of Phargam-on-Pass, setting a new precedent. Three sisters from Chitral – Mehrush Akhtar, Ismail Rose, and Madhushala Akhtar – were part of the historic expedition, inspiring the nation with their feat.
The diverse team comprised Kamran Khan, Mehrush Akhtar, Samar Khan, Noman Khan, Noor-ur-Rehman, Zohaib Khan, Omar Khattab Sherani, Sahnia Babar, Amna Shabbir, and Madiha Syed. The expedition was completed with the support of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority, facilitating the climbers’ journey through the challenging terrain.
During the expedition, the team also discovered a memorial dedicated to Austrian climber Georg Kronberger, who lost his life in the region in 1975.
The climbers successfully completed the expedition despite facing extreme dangers, including treacherous glaciers, icy slopes, rocky paths, and the constant threat of avalanches.
Guide Zamrud Khan, who accompanied the team, noted a significant change in the route compared to the past, attributing the alteration to the effects of climate change on the region’s landscape.
