Pakistani mountaineers Sarbaz Khan and Abid Baig from Gilgit-Baltistan have set a historic milestone by becoming the first Pakistanis to summit Tirich Mir, the tallest peak in the Hindu Kush at 7,708 meters.
The expedition was carried out under the directives of KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, with support from the KP Culture and Tourism Authority, led by Director Umar Arshad Khan.
Despite harsh weather and snowstorms, Sarbaz and Abid reached the summit, while five climbers climbed up to 7,300 meters and seven others reached 7,000 meters. The full team included Sarbaz Khan, Abid Baig, Umar Arshad Khan, Dr. Naveed Iqbal, Major Muhammad Atif, Shams ul Qamar, and Akmal Naveed, assisted by experienced high-altitude porters Hassan, Shehzad, Younis, and Arif.
Umar Arshad Khan hailed the success as a historic achievement that will spotlight Chitral and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as key adventure tourism destinations.
Sarbaz Khan said Tirich Mir was tougher than many other peaks and expressed pride in completing summits in all three major ranges: Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalayas. He praised government support, noting that such initiatives could inspire youth to become high-altitude porters and boost local economies through adventure tourism.
The event also saw participation from over 60 trekkers and more than 100 local porters and guides, marking a landmark moment in Pakistan’s mountaineering and tourism journey.
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