Pakistani mountaineer Sirbaz Khan receives grand welcome in Gilgit-Baltistan

GILGIT: Renowned Pakistani mountaineer Sirbaz Khan received a hero’s welcome upon his return to Gilgit-Baltistan on Sunday, following his historic achievement of becoming the first Pakistani to scale all 14 of the world’s highest peaks.

On October 4, Sirbaz made history by summiting Shishapangma (8,027 meters) in Tibet, completing his extraordinary feat of climbing all 14 “eight-thousanders”, mountains exceeding 8,000 meters in height.

Sirbaz’s achievement places him among an elite group of global climbers, with 12 of the 14 summits conquered without supplementary oxygen.

Only Annapurna and Kanchenjunga remain for him to complete all 14 summits without oxygen assistance.

Upon his return, Sirbaz was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd, including members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, family, friends, and community members.

However, no government official came to welcome Sirbaz and congratulate him on his achievement.  Sirbaz was taken in a celebratory rally to his native Hunza valley, where locals eagerly awaited their hero, adorning him with flower garlands.

At a ceremony in Hunza, Sirbaz joined in cultural dances, showcasing his connection to his roots. In an emotional address, he expressed gratitude to his community for their unwavering support since his first summit of Nanga Parbat in 2016.

Sirbaz reflected on his journey, saying, “Alhamdulillah, after years of relentless effort, my Mission 14 is complete. This is a dream come true not just for me, but for legendary climbers like Amir Mehdi, Nazir Sabir, Ashraf Aman, Samina Baig, Abdul Joshi, and many others whose dreams I have carried with me.”

Local leaders, including Col (r) Obaidullah Baig and senior PPP leader Zahoor Advocate, criticized the absence of government officials, arguing it reflected poorly on the region’s commitment to promoting tourism and honoring national heroes like Sirbaz Khan.

Despite millions allocated for tourism development in Gilgit-Baltistan, no representatives from the federal government, Gilgit-Baltistan government, GB Tourism Department, Alpine Club of Pakistan, or Hunza District Administration attended the event.