Pakistan’s Peaks See Strong Drop in Foreign Climbers

(MENAFN) Pakistan’s renowned northern mountains, long attracting mountaineers from around the world, are witnessing an almost total collapse in foreign arrivals this climbing season.

A combination of erratic climate disasters, regional armed conflicts, and steep fee increases has led to a nearly 90% decline in international visitors, dealing a heavy blow to the nation’s mountaineering and tourism industry.

The Gilgit-Baltistan region, which hosts five of the globe’s 14 tallest peaks – including K2, Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak, and Gasherbrum I and II – recorded only 270 foreign climbers attempting expeditions this summer, compared to over 2,000 last year, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan.

“Harsh weather conditions, including avalanches, rockfalls, and high winds, forced many expeditions to abandon their attempts and return without summits,” stated Karrar Haidri, vice president of the club, Pakistan’s official mountaineering authority.

This year, climate disasters have posed a particular threat, as Pakistan continues to recover from some of the deadliest floods in its history.

The floods have claimed at least 1,000 lives, destroyed villages, submerged farmland, and displaced over 2 million people, mostly in the northeastern Punjab province.

Haidri also pointed out that the decline in climbers was not solely due to weather conditions.

“Apart from rains and floods, the recent wars and an increase in climbing fees also contributed to the decline in the number of foreign climbers,” he said, referencing a four-day armed clash between Pakistan and India in May and the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June.

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