May 24, 2006	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 25, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, May 23: Two young Pakistani climbers have organized the first ever local expedition to K2, the second highest mountain of the world. Briefing mediapersons here on Tuesday about the “Shams Alpine Pakistan K2 Expedition-2006”, the two young climbers from Shimshal, known as “valley of mountaineers” in upper Hunza, Qudrat Ali and Shaheen Baig, said their prime objective was to promote adventure tourism and boost the image of Pakistan at international level.

The two climbers have vast experience of mountaineering and scaled four of the five 8000-meter high peaks, including Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak, G-2, G-1 and Hidden peak in the Himalayan and Karakuram ranges and Mustaghta in China.

Unlike the mostly expeditions to the K2, “we want to set an example by undertaking a purely local expedition,” Qudrat Ali said.

“We want to popularise the rich potentials in Northern Areas of Pakistan for adventure lovers and attract more local and foreign expeditions,” he said.

The two-member expedition with 25 porters, organised under the banner of Shams Alpine Mountaineering and Trekking, will leave for Skardu on May 25.

“We will proceed to the base camp on June 6. This will be the first expedition of the season to reach the base camp of K2 to make route before the arrival of other expeditions to prove that the Pakistanis have also the skills and expertise to launch such an expedition and lead others in mountaineering”, Shaheen Baig said.

Their final assault on the 8,611-meter peak will come between July 6 and 10, depending on weather.

“We are using our hard-earned money for the expedition,” Qudrat Ali said, acknowledging that Amical Alpin of Germany and Nagoya CAC of Japan had provided some financial assistance. The climbers regretted that none of the multinational companies operating in Pakistan and organizations responded favourably to their request for sponsorship.

Qudrat Ali and Shaheen Baig said that adventure tourism had witnessed a steady and fast growth during the recent years.

The popularity of mountaineering, the most difficult sport of the world, is increasing and it is being given great importance in other countries of the world, they noted, but regretted that the most dangerous sport was not being properly encouraged and promoted in Pakistan.

They stressed that there was enormous potential in adventure tourism for earning foreign exchange and projecting the country. The Northern Areas, having three great mountain ranges of Hindukush, Himalayas, and Karakoram is the most ideal region for adventure tourism.