Pakistan Will Not Restrict Alpine Expeditions Despite Recent Incidents

• Pakistan does not plan to restrict alpine expeditions.
• The government is working on improving safety for climbers.
• Many local residents participate in alpine tourism, which ensures economic benefits.

PAKISTAN (AP) — The government of Pakistan has not issued any warnings or restrictions for alpine expeditions in the northern regions, despite recent incidents with fatal consequences. According to Faizullah Farak, a government representative in Gilgit-Baltistan, climbers are aware of all the risks and challenges, so they willingly come to try to conquer these peaks.

The latest victim was 37-year-old Chinese climber Guan Ziyin, who died last week during an ascent of K2, the second-highest mountain in the world, after falling from a rock. Her body was found on Saturday. Currently, her body is located in the morgue of the military hospital in Skardu. With the Chinese authorities in Islamabad already connected, it is now necessary to consider further arrangements for her repatriation.

Ziyin's death occurred a few weeks after the death of German climber and Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier, who died while attempting to summit Peak Laila in Karakoram. As usual, the bodies of foreign climbers who perish in the mountains of Pakistan are returned to their families. If the families refuse the rescue operation, the remains are left on-site.

Farak noted that the government is striving to improve infrastructure for climbers, ensuring rescue services, safety, and a comfortable environment. Alpine expeditions are the backbone of the local economy, bringing in millions of dollars in revenue. Many people work in these expeditions seasonally, securing their families' livelihoods for the entire year.

This year, hundreds of climbers are trying to summit the peaks in northern Pakistan. Avalanches often occur due to sudden weather changes. In early September, two Russians spent six days in a remote area on the northern peak before they were rescued. Gilgit-Baltistan in Kashmir this year recorded higher-than-normal snow levels, which contributed to rapid avalanches and landslides.

Tags: Politics