Mountain Marathon
Kaghan Valley , NWFP, Pakistan
Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir
7th to 9th July 2007
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General
1. Pakistan is bestowed with the largest collection of the spectacular and lofty mountains in the world. It is here in Northern Areas that three magnificent mountain ranges on Earth; Karakoram, Himalayas and Hindukush make a rendezvous. In their fold these ranges boast off more than 720 peaks rising above 6,000 metres, including more than 160 rising above 7,000 metres, and five towering above 8,000 metres topped by the second highest peak of the world - the savage Chogori or K-2 (8,616m). Northern Areas, Chitral and valley of Azad Kashmir, Swat and Kaghan offer vast potential and opportunities for mountain related adventure sports and activities i.e., climbing, mountaineering, skiing, white water rafting etc and is rightfully claimed as paradise for mountaineers, mountain adventure seekers and nature lovers. Yet it is unfortunate that this unparalleled natural endowment has not found compatible interest amongst our own countrymen, specially the youth. A leaflet providing brief information about the Land of Spectacular Mountains and its splendour is enclosed.
2. Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP), the national mountaineering and climbing federation, is engaged in promoting healthy adventure sports of mountaineering and mountain related adventure activities in the country since its establishment in 1974. Besides training a large number of its members, youth (including women) and others related with the mountain tourism, it has launched many successful mountaineering expeditions to the highest mountains including K2 as well as the world’s highest - Mt Everest (8,850m). It has produced several mountaineers of international repute and eminence including Nazir Sabir – the present ACP President and only Pakistan to climb Mt Everest and K2, Col Sher Khan (Retd), Rajab Shah and many other famous mountaineers. The information handbook of the ACP and the latest Newsletter are enclosed for reference.
3. The lower reaches of Western Himalayas housing Kashmir and North West Frontier Province of Pakistan in its fold, is a land blessed with varied landscape ranging from low hills to high mountains, lakes, rivers and enchanting valleys. The region, having good reliable short lateral land linkages with mainland Pakistan, is blessed with unexploited potential for both summer and winter mountain adventure sports and activities. It is within easy access of physically fit but less budgeted youth who can not afford funds and time to travel to Northern Areas and Chitral for fulfilling their urge for the high adventure. Further, devastating Earthquake of 8th October 2005 shattered the local economy and population with many suffering limb amputations. Tourism is a human based activity providing vast opportunities for local population to benefit by utilising the local natural, cultural and historical assets engendering economic uplift, benefiting all and sundry, especially providing employment opportunities to the earthquake affected population. Neelum valley (Azad Kashmir) and Kaghan valley (NWFP) the most enchanting valleys of the region running parallel separated only by the Kaghan Valley mountain ranges, provide immense opportunities for mountain tourism.
4. It is, therefore, vital that mountain tourism activities are generated in Azad Kashmir and Kaghan Valleys to expose and promote the region amongst the adventure and nature lovers and engender domestic tourism, especially amongst the youth. Organising mountain marathon is one such activity which can effectively publicise and promote the area and its tourism potential to the domestic and international tourists. It will also provide tourism linkages between Pakistan and Azad Kashmir helping to promote domestic tourism in the earthquake affected areas. As Ministry of Tourism, Government of Pakistan celebrates Destination Pakistan Year 2007 it is considered appropriate to organise one mountain marathon linking Pakistan (Kaghan Valley NWFP) with Azad Kashmir (Neelum Valley). This event is an approved event of Federal Ministry of Tourism and is included in the Calendar of Events for Destination Pakistan 2007.
 
Proposal
5. It is proposed to organise a mountain marathon linking Kaghan Valley in NWFP, Pakistan and Neelum Valley in Azad Kashmir – the worst affected areas of the devastating Earthquake of 8th October 2005. It will be spread over three days and shall be participated by physically fit youths who shall start from Kawai in Kaghan Valley in N.W.F.P and after climbing over Makra Range (3,885 m or 12,744 ft) will land at Patika in Neelum Valley and then finish at AJK University Campus, Muzaffarabad. It will be held from 7th to 9th July 2007.
Objectives
6. The objectives of the Mountain Marathon are:-
 
  1. Raise awareness about Mountain Tourism in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
  2. Create linkages in Mountain Tourism between Kaghan valley in NWFP, Pakistan and Neelum Valley in AJK.
  3. Raise awareness about earthquake affected areas of AJK and NWFP, Pakistan.
  4. Promote and engender interest towards the healthy mountain adventure sports amongst the youth of Pakistan, in general and AJK in particular.
Patronage
7. The programme shall be conducted by the Alpine Club of Pakistan under the overall supervision of Ministry of Tourism, Government of Pakistan, with the cooperation/collaboration of AJK Tourism Department. Federal Minister for Tourism Mrs Nilofar Bakhtiar and Prime Minister AJK Sardar Atiqur Rehman have been requested to become the Patrons of this event.
Outline Programme (7th to 9th July 2007)
8. The route of the Marathon will be from Kawai to Muzaffarabad via Shogran - Paya – Makra – Bheri and Patika. Location Map enclosed at Annex B.
 
  1. Stage -1 - Saturday 7th July 07 - Start at Kawai (1372 m or 4500 ft) (Kaghan, Distt Mansehra, NWFP, Pakistan) then move along Shogran (2357 m or 7730 ft) and finish at Paya (3093 m or 10145 ft) – (total length 17 kms). Logistic support shall be provided at Kawai and Paya. This will be considered as qualifying stage and first 100 youth will be qualified to proceed further with remaining stages.
  2. Stage -2 – Sunday 8th July 07 - Start at Paya (3093 m or 10145 ft) (Kaghan, Distt Mansehra, NWFP, Pakistan) then move along Makra (3885 m or 12744 ft) – Pathra (2439 m or 8000 ft) (AJK) and finish at Bheri (1768 m or 5800 ft) – (total length 18 kms. Logistic support shall be provided at Paya and Bheri.
  3. Stage -3 – Monday 9th July 07 - Start at Bheri (1768 m or 5800 ft) in Azad Kashmir then descend to Patika (854 m or 2744 ft) and finish at AJK University Campus, Muzaffarabad (671 m or 2200 ft) – (total length 34 kms). Logistic support shall be provided at Bheri only.
9. Organising Committee
 
  1. Chairman – Secretary Tourism AJK
  2. Members
    1. Lt Col (Retd) Manzoor Hussain, Executive Vice President, Alpine Club of Pakistan
    2. Mr Saad Tariq Siddiqi, Secretary ACP – Chairman Supervisory Committee.
    3. Mr Farooq Ahmad Mughal, DG AJK Tourism Deptt.
    4. DCO Muzaffarabad
    5. DCO Mansehra
10. Management Committee
 
  1. Chairman – Mr Saad Tariq Siddiqi, Secretary ACP
  2. Members
    1. Pirzada Irshad Ahmad, Dy Director Tourism, AJK Tourism Deptt
    2. (2). Syed Manzoor Hussain Shah, International Islamic University, Islamabad.
    3. (3). Mr Mumtaz Ahmad ACP – AJK Branch.
    4. (4). 20 Other ACP members
11. Participation All men above 18 years of age from all over AJK and Pakistan can participate in the event. They will be required to report at ACP Camp Kawai, Kaghan Valley, NWFP by 6pm on 6th July 07
12. Registration All intended participants will register with Alpine Club of Pakistan at Islamabad and AJK Tourism Department at Muzaffarabad, AJK by 30 June 2007 on Registration Form held with these offices and available on AJK, ACP and Ministry of Tourism websites. To draw serious and genuine participants, each participant will be required to pay Entry Fee of Rs 300 with the Registration Form. The participants shall be provided with Chest Numbers from 1001 to 1500 on first come first serve basis.
13. Prize Money – Following prize money is proposed:-
 
Ser

Position

 Prize Money (Rs)
a First 70,000
b Second 55,000
c Third 40,000
d Fourth 30,000
e Fifth 22,000
f Sixth 16,000
g Seventh 13,000
h Eighth 10,000
j Ninth 8,000
k Tenth 6,000
  Total 270,000
14. Start Point - Kawai, Kaghan Valley, NWFP (outer skirts of the Town)
15. Finish Point - AJK University Campus, Muzaffarbad
16. Route Marking and Points-men The route shall be marked at start and finish point Paya, Makra and other sharp turns between Makra and Bheri. Points-men/Assistants shall be placed at critical locations enroute with red route markers.
17. Launching Ceremony will be held at Kawai, Kaghan Valley by Provincial Minister for Tourism or any other official from NWFP.
18. Prize Distribution Ceremony - Ceremony will be held at AJK University Campus Muzaffarbad in the evening of Monday 9th July 2007. Prime Minister, AJK and Federal Minister for Tourism shall be requested to grace the occasion as Chief Guests.
19. Publications Promotional campaign leaflets shall be published to lure participation from the youth. A special supplement shall be published highlighting the Sponsors as well as the participants and messages from the Federal Minister for Tourism as well Prime Minister of AJK
20.
  1. Camping and Meals Free Camping for night stay and meals shall be provided to the participants of the Mountain Marathon at Kawai (6/7 July 07), Paya (7/8 July 07) and Bheri (8/9 July 07) (breakfast -3, lunch -3 and dinners -3).
  2. Medical Facilities Kawai, Bheri and Muzaffrabad under arrangements of the local governments.
  3. Camping gear Necessary camping facilities will be provided at the camps as mentioned in para a above
21. Budget
 
Ser Item Nos of Participants No of Days/Meals Amount (Rs)
a Camping gear 100 4 500,000
b Food and Beverages 150 9 288,000
c Prize Money     270,000
d Transportation     200,000
e Telephone & Postal Charges     50,000
f Administrative Expenses     300,000
g Promotion & Publicity     200,000
h Souvenirs & Awards     100,000
j Prize Distribution Ceremony     100,000
  Grand Total     2,008,000
22. Conclusion The mountainous region of AJK and Kaghan in it’s fold, possesses large untapped potential of mountain tourism. To promote outdoor adventure activities amongst youth of AJK and Pakistan’s, exploit Mountain Tourism potential of AJK and promote domestic tourism it is important to organise a Mountain Adventure event like the Mountain Marathon during the Destination Pakistan Year being celebrated in 2007.