ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is a paradise for the mountaineers of the world and needs special global attention to facilitate the climbers around the world to benefit from this opportunity.
This was stated by the world renowned Pakistani mountaineer Nazir Sabir while giving a talk on his K2 and Everest climbs and the mountain heritage in Pakistan at Pakistan High Commission, London, said a press release issued here on Thursday.
The neglect of such facilities, he said would give room to anti-social elements to exploit the poor and vulnerable population of the region.
This neglect amounts to denying the climbers and lovers of this sport the opportunity to attempt the most challenging mountainous region on earth, he added.
There is need, he emphasized to develop and improve the infrastructure around this region to attract and facilitate the climbers.
In his enthralling hour-long presentation embellished with stunning imagery Nazir Sabir explained the unique details of the 1977 expedition to K-2 covering its geology, sociology and history. He also briefed the audience of his success to reach the highest mountain of the world Mount Everest in 2001.
The event was attended by media persons, members of Pakistani society and the British society.
Mr. Nazir Sabir was invited by Mr. Doug Scott the world renowned Himalayan climber from England to be part of the special event on K2 called “First on K2” where all those climbers who were lucky to have climbed a new route on K2 and were still around to tell the story of the success.
So far he has delivered his talks at the UK’s prestigious institutions like Natural History Museum Oxford, Royal Geographical Society London, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Riady Theatre Napier University Edinburgh and Kendal Mountain Festival London. He is scheduled to meet the Queen on December 8, along with other mountaineers.
The event was also attended by climbers from USA and Japan. After the event Mr Nazir Sabir Mr Doug, Mr. Jim Wickwire went on a series of talks to other places
Mr Nazir Sabir also gave his presentations at four others places during the visit and also in a few schools and colleges and the Pakistan community at Bradford.
About Mountain K2
The mountain K-2 with an altitude of 8611 meters is known as the “Savage Mountain” because of its difficult climb and extreme cold conditions.
K2 (also known as Savage Mountain, Mountaineer’s Mountain, Mount Godwin-Austen, Balti: Chogori and Sarikoli: Mount Qogir) is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest. With a peak elevation of 8,611 m (28,251 feet), K2 is part of the Karakoram Range, and is located on the border[2] between Baltistan, in Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Xinjiang, China.[3][note] It is more hazardous to reach K2 from the Chinese side; thus, it is mostly climbed from the Pakistani side.
K2 is known as the Savage Mountain due to the difficulty of ascent and the second-highest fatality rate among the “eight thousanders” for those who climb it. For every four people who have reached the summit, one has died trying.[4] Unlike Annapurna, the mountain with the highest fatality rate, K2 has never been climbed in winter.
About Mr. Nazir Sabir
Mr. Nazir Sabir is a mountain climber from Hunza Pakistan where he was born and brought up. Over two decades he has achieved many successes including the distinction of having climbed four of the five 8000m peaks in Pakistan including the K2 (8616m) the world’s second highest mountain that too via a new route – the West Ridge/SSW Ridge in 1981.
On May 17, 2000 he was also also successful in climbing the summit of Everest becoming the first Pakistani to scale the roof of the world.
He earned the prestigious President’s Award for Pride of Performance in 1982 and The Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Distinction) in 2001 for his outstanding achievements in mountaineering. He was also elected as representative to the Northern Area Legislative Council from Hunza district, in the October 1994 elections and was appointed Advisor on Education and Tourism to the government.
He runs an adventure travel business in Pakistan under the name of “Nazir Sabir Expeditions”
