Officials believe the reopening of Phargam An Pass could play a key role in promoting the region’s mountaineering opportunities, drawing climbers and adventure tourists while showcasing its natural beauty.
KARACHI: A Pakistani mountaineering expedition has achieved a historic milestone by crossing and reaching the summit of the remote Phargam An Pass (5,100 metres) in the Hindu Kush for the first time in 27 years, officials said on Tuesday.
The achievement also marked the first-ever successful summit of the pass by women climbers, highlighting the growing participation of female mountaineers in Pakistan’s adventure tourism sector.
Supported by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), the expedition reopened the historic high-altitude route connecting Laspur Valley in Upper Chitral with Golain Valley in Lower Chitral, offering new opportunities for trekking and mountaineering in the region.
The climbers overcame a demanding route filled with glaciers, sharp snow slopes, loose rocks and avalanche-risk zones before reaching the summit and completing their descent into the Golain Valley.
Kamran Khan led the successful summit push as the first member of the expedition to reach Phargam An Pass, with Mehrosh Akhtar, Samar Khan, Noman Khan, Noormal Rehman, Zohaib Khan, Omar Khitab Sheerani, Sohniya Babar, Amina Shabbir and Madeeha Syed joining him in the historic achievement.
The expedition created history as women climbers successfully reached the summit of Phargam An Pass for the first time, with Mehrosh Akhtar among the pioneering mountaineers. Chitrali sisters Smell Rose and Madhu Shala Akhtar were also part of the remarkable journey.
Guided by local expert Zamurd Khan, the team reported that the route had changed considerably due to evolving mountain conditions, including frequent rockfalls and receding glaciers.
The climbers also uncovered a memorial plaque during the expedition, dedicated to Austrian mountaineer Georg Kronberger, who died in the region in 1975.
Officials said the achievement was part of the KPCTA’s Tirich Mir Project, an initiative focused on identifying, documenting and restoring historic mountain trails while encouraging responsible adventure tourism in Upper Chitral.
They said the revival of Phargam An Pass would showcase the area’s exceptional mountaineering opportunities, encourage exploration and help safeguard the region’s legacy of adventure.
The expedition created history as women climbers successfully reached the summit of Phargam An Pass for the first time, with Mehrosh Akhtar among the pioneering mountaineers. Chitrali sisters Smell Rose and Madhu Shala Akhtar were also part of the remarkable journey.
Guided by local expert Zamurd Khan, the team reported that the route had changed considerably due to evolving mountain conditions, including frequent rockfalls and receding glaciers.
The climbers also uncovered a memorial plaque during the expedition, dedicated to Austrian mountaineer Georg Kronberger, who died in the region in 1975.
Officials said the achievement was part of the KPCTA’s Tirich Mir Project, an initiative focused on identifying, documenting and restoring historic mountain trails while encouraging responsible adventure tourism in Upper Chitral.
They said the revival of Phargam An Pass would showcase the area’s exceptional mountaineering opportunities, encourage exploration and help safeguard the region’s legacy of adventure.
