| The Pakistani mountaineering expedition which intends climbing
8035 metre high Gasherbrum – II in the current mountaineering season
left Rawalpindi for Skardu by road today. The expedition which is jointly
sponsored by Pakistan Army and Alpine Club of Pakistan is being launched
to commemorate the golden jubilee of the first ascent of Gasherbrum II made
by an Austrian expedition in 1956. The Expedition which comprises nine members
is being led by Lt Col Amjad Wali, Commandant Army High Altitude School,
Rattu, Northern Areas. Other members of the Expedition include Major Muhammad
Babar Khan, Capt Asif Wali, N/Sub Sher Dullah Khan and L/Nk Haji Akbar,
Muhamamd Taqi, Hussain Parwana, Ali Muhammad and Mumtaz Ahmed. The team
was accorded a warm send in the evening of 03 Jul 06 by Lt Col (Retd)
Manzoor Hussain Executive Vice President and Mr Saad Tariq Siddiqi, Secretary
Alpine Club of Pakistan. Highlighting expedition’s importance in
promoting mountaineering in the country Lt Col (Retd) Manzoor Hussain
said Pakistan abounds in high mountains which lure mountaineers from world
over yet domestically there is not much interest in the healthy and adventurous
sports of mountaineering. He said that Pakistan Army has always served
as a strong base for promotion of the adventure and mountain sports in
the country and launching of this expedition on the auspicious occasion
of the golden jubilee of the first ascent of Gasherbrum II is another
step in this direction. Lauding member’s courage to set upon this
hazardous and perilous adventure, he prayed for their success in climbing
Mt Gasherbrum II and safe return.
Lt Col Amjad Wali, the expedition leader expressed his gratitude to the
Alpine Club of Pakistan and Pakistan Army for providing the expedition
with necessary technical and logistic support for achieving the Expedition’s
mission. He assured Alpinr Club officials present that the expedition
will all out effort to reach the Peak’s summit.
The teams expects to reach Skardu by 06 July from where it expects to
leave for the mountain. |
