ISLAMABAD, Jul 03 (APP):President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP), Major General (retd) Irfan Arshad Khan, on Friday announced the Second Women's Khosar Gang Expedition 2026, reaffirming the club's commitment to promote women's participation in mountaineering, adventure sports and outdoor leadership. Addressing the launching ceremony of the expedition, he said, "Pakistan's mountains are among our greatest national assets and present a positive image of the country to the world. …
ACP announces all-women Khosar Gang expedition
ISLAMABAD, Jul 03 (APP):President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP), Major General (retd) Irfan Arshad Khan, on Friday announced the Second Women’s Khosar Gang Expedition 2026, reaffirming the club’s commitment to promote women’s participation in mountaineering, adventure sports and outdoor leadership.
Addressing the launching ceremony of the expedition, he said, “Pakistan’s mountains are among our greatest national assets and present a positive image of the country to the world. Our women have excelled in every field of life and now they are proving their abilities in mountaineering as well.”
The ceremony was attended by Managing Director, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, Aftab Rana, Brigadier Irfan Akhtar of Green Tourism, Commodore Akhtar Shahid Wain, Brigadier Mehdi and Khalid Mahmood.
Announcing the expedition, he said, “The team will attempt to summit Khosar Gang (6,040 metres) in Shigar Valley, providing women climbers with valuable high-altitude mountaineering experience while developing their leadership skills.”
He said the expedition built on the success of Pakistan’s first all-women Bari La expedition, which was organized during the club’s Golden Jubilee celebrations and received national and international recognition.
“Participants have been selected through a transparent process by a committee of experienced women mountaineers led by Naila Kiani,” he added.
The selected climbers included Zeba Batool (Gilgit-Baltistan), Bibi Afzoon (Gilgit-Baltistan), Ammara Sharif (Islamabad), Asma Bashir Bangash (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Bisma Hassan (Punjab), Sadia Maqbool (Punjab), Natasha Fateh Muhammad (Sindh), Bibi Malika (Balochistan) and Laiba Shakeel (Azad Jammu and Kashmir).
He said the team would depart from Skardu in the first week of July, while all planning and logistics would be managed by the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
Irfan Arshad Khan said the club also planned to include women photographers in future expeditions to encourage greater female participation in adventure tourism.
“In September, we will organize the K2 Baltoro Clean-Up Expedition 2026 to help protect the mountain environment, clean trekking routes and promote responsible tourism,” he said.
Calling Pakistan’s mountains a priceless natural heritage, he said, “We remain committed to preserving these magnificent mountains for future generations.”
Referring to the club’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, he said, “A commemorative Rs 50 postage stamp featuring four of Pakistan’s iconic peaks has been issued. It will become a symbol of Pakistan’s mountain heritage and a positive identity for the country.”
He also said the Club would sought new sponsors this year to further expand adventure sports activities across Pakistan.
