GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan on Wednesday announced that his government will bear all the expenses on the treatment of renowned mountaineer Mohammad Karim, also known as Little Karim, who is suffering from a liver disease.

Taking notice of a social media message by climber’s son, Mohammad Hanif that the family had no money for treatment of his father, the chief minister directed relevant officials to contact the mountaineer’s family.

According to a statement, the CM said his government would also give employment to his children.

In the video message, Mohammad Hanif also said he had been unemployed for last two years, and that it had become tough to meet home expenditures or pay for treatment of his father. He said they had to sell their home, and he had to auction the shirt autographed and gifted by renowned footballer Christiano Ronaldo to meet treatment expenses of his father.

Abdul Karim, 70, hails from Hushe village of Ghanche district.He was globally known as a high altitude porter and mountaineer through the 70s and 80s.

He also holds the world record of climbing the 8,035-metre Gasherbrum-2 without supplementary oxygen.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2022