CELEBRATED mountaineer and high-altitude porter Abdul Karim, also known as ‘Little Karim’, hails from the small village of Hushe in the Ghanche district. He holds the world record of climbing the 8,035 metre Gasherbrum 2 without supplementary oxygen.

In 1985, Laurent Chevallier, a French documentary filmmaker, made a documentary on Karim. In 1997, the same filmmaker made a documentary on him, this time, titled Mister Karim. Football star Cristiano Ronaldo has also gifted him his shirt with his signature.

Unfortunately, now he is suffering from liver disease and his family cannot bear his medical treatment expenditure.

In a recent video statement, his son announced the auction of the shirt signed and gifted by Ronaldo to meet the treatment expenses. He is waiting for a miracle. Will the government do the needful and extend financial/medical help so that this hero of ours can survive?

Yahya Shareef
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2022