RAWALPINDI, JUL 05 (DNA): President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) Major General Irfan Arshad Khan said Pakistan’s identity on the global stage is increasingly being defined by positive achievements, noting that Pakistani women have earned international recognition for the country through their outstanding accomplishments in diverse fields.
He made these remarks while announcing the launch of the Second Women Khusar Gang Expedition 2026, reaffirming the club’s commitment to promoting women’s participation in mountaineering, adventure sports, and outdoor leadership across Pakistan.
Addressing a ceremony in Rawalpindi, Major General Irfan Arshad Khan said the all-women expedition reflects the ACP’s continued efforts to empower female mountaineers and encourage greater participation in high-altitude climbing and adventure sports.
Marking the club’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, he also announced the issuance of a Rs50 commemorative postage stamp featuring four of Pakistan’s iconic mountain peaks. He described the stamp as a symbol of the country’s natural beauty and a tribute to its rich mountaineering heritage.
The ceremony was attended by Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Managing Director Aftab Rana, Green Tourism representative Brigadier Irfan Akhtar, Commodore Akhtar Shahid Wain, Brigadier Mehdi, Khalid Mahmood, and other distinguished guests.
The expedition will see a team of female climbers attempt to summit Khusar Gang (6,040 metres), located in the scenic Shigar Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan’s Karakoram mountain range.
The initiative follows the successful all-women Bari La Expedition conducted during the ACP’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, which received widespread appreciation both nationally and internationally.
ACP officials said the Khusar Gang Expedition aims to provide women climbers with practical high-altitude mountaineering experience, develop leadership skills, and promote greater female participation in adventure sports across Pakistan.
Participants were selected through a transparent process by a committee of experienced women climbers led by renowned Pakistani mountaineer Naila Kiani. The selected team comprises Zeba Batool and Bibi Afzoon from Gilgit-Baltistan, Amara Sharif from Islamabad, Asma Bashir Bangash from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bisma Hassan and Sadia Maqbool from Punjab, Natasha Fateh Muhammad from Sindh, Bibi Malika from Balochistan, and Laiba Shakeel from Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The team is scheduled to depart from Skardu during the first week of July 2026, with all planning, coordination, and logistical arrangements being managed by the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
Reaffirming the club’s broader vision, ACP leadership said it remains committed to promoting mountaineering, adventure tourism, environmental awareness, and gender inclusion in outdoor sports. Officials added that the club will continue creating opportunities for young Pakistanis, particularly women, to showcase their talent in the country’s mountainous regions.
The ACP also announced that it will organize the K2 Baltoro Clean-Up Campaign 2026 in September. The environmental initiative will focus on preserving the fragile mountain ecosystem, removing waste from trekking routes, and raising public awareness about responsible mountain tourism and environmental conservation.
Major General Irfan Arshad Khan further said the Alpine Club would seek new sponsors this year to expand adventure sports initiatives and strengthen Pakistan’s profile as a premier destination for mountaineering and eco-tourism. He emphasized that the country’s towering mountain ranges are among its most valuable natural assets and pledged the club’s continued commitment to preserving them for future generations.
