Pakistan and Italy on Friday celebrated 125 years of people to people friendship and close ties based on decades long history of collaboration spanning over diverse areas of research in mountaineering, high altitude porters & rescue, trekking, rock climbing, national parks, solid waste management from vicinity of K2, Buddhist heritage conservation, and glacier-related scientific research.
Pakistan, Italy celebrate 125 years of people-to-people ties, friendship
ROME, Jul 10 (APP): Pakistan and Italy on Friday celebrated 125 years of people to people friendship and close ties based on decades long history of collaboration spanning over diverse areas of research in mountaineering, high altitude porters & rescue, trekking, rock climbing, national parks, solid waste management from vicinity of K2, Buddhist heritage conservation, and glacier-related scientific research.
The Embassy and Everest, K2 and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (EvK2CNR), is an Italian-based, non-profit association dedicated to scientific and technological research in high and extreme altitudes, recently organized, a high-profile celebration at Italian Parliament, titled ‘Italy & Pakistan: 125 Years of History & Collaboration’. Hon’ble Italian Parliamentarians Stefano Benigni and Annarita Patriarca opened the event followed with message from Minister Energy, H.E. Gilberto Pichetto Fratin. Ambassador-designate to Pakistan H.E. Ugo Ciarlatani was also present.
Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Senator Musadik Malik, in his virtual address, underscored longstanding friendship and cooperation between both nations. He thanked EvK2CNR for recent scientific research placing total number of Pakistani glaciers at 13, 032, highest worldwide. He underlined Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change and stressed continued scientific collaboration.
Ambassador, Ali Javed thanked Italian Energy Minister and the Parliamentarians for gracing the event as well as Chamber of Deputies (Lower House) and EvK2CNR for hosting the Conference and praised Pakistan’s 125 years of friendship with Italian people. Whereas diplomatic ties with Italy were established in 1948, recorded evidence demonstrates that Duke of Abruzzi, Prince Luigi Amedeo, of erstwhile Italian royal family, ventured into Pakistan’s majestic north, reaching K-2 Base Camp in 1909.
The ambassador praised Italy for being first nation to conquer K2 on July 31, 1954. “Today out of deep emotional attachment, Italians affectionately call K2 ‘The Italian Mountain”, he said, adding that he welcomed EvK2CNR tradition to celebrate the historic ascent every 10-years with mountaineers from both nations.
Praising Italian cooperation for Pakistan’s agriculture and heritage through CIHEAM Bari Institute and Italian Archaeological Mission Swat, he highlighted the success of Olive Cultivation across four Provinces of Pakistan over past 5 years. Adding that Italy first engaged in Olive Cultivation in 1985, he welcomed the €20mn Agreement for Agriculture TVET signed in Islamabad on 29.6.26.
The ambassador welcomed an under-consideration proposal for Technical Cooperation to establish ‘Heritage Field Schools’ & ‘Forensic Lab’ in KPK Province, noting its potential to boost preservation of heritage and linked tourism.
Ambassador Javed also acknowledged Professor Carlo Alberto Pinelli (Sitara-e-Imtiaz 2016) for his 65 years of friendship and his INGO ‘Mountain Wilderness’, for contributing in fields of Mountaineering, High Altitude Porters & Rescue, Trekking, Rock Climbing, National Parks and Solid Waste Management from vicinity of K2.
DG Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), Marco Rusconi, an extension of Italian Foreign Ministry, noted that Pakistan features on ‘AICS Priority List’. He commended EvK2CNR for publishing 390-paged ‘New Inventory of 13,032 Glaciers in Pakistan; Glaciers & Students Project’ supported by AICS, UNDP, Pakistani Climate Change Ministry, Universities of Cagliari, Milan, Baltistan and Karakoram International. Luca Di Liberto of Italy’s ‘Nat’l Research Council’ praised EvK2CNR’s high altitude scientific infrastructure in Pakistan.
Professor Luca Maria Oliveri gave a presentation on ‘Italian Archaeological Mission Swat’ (IAMS), established in Swat since 1955 and contributing to preservation of local Buddhist heritage sites. Prof. Oliveri was awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Distinction) in 2016 for his outstanding services spanning 4 decades.
Dr. Davide Fugazza & Anees Ahmad from University of Milan shared scientific research on ‘Karakoram Anomaly’, a ‘self-protect’ phenomenon uniquely associated with Pakistani glaciers. Prof. Diolaiuti presented a Paper on ‘Ardito Desio’, who had led 1954 expedition to K2 and later became known as ‘’Scholar of Karakoram’.
The Event, witnessed by salient members of Pakistani community and Italian civil society, declared ‘K2’ as enduring symbol of Pak-Italy Friendship. Proceedings were concluded with Ambassador conferring the prestigious ‘Tamgha-e-Pakistan’ (Medal of Pakistan) upon Agostino da Polenza, President EvK2CNR for his longstanding services to Pakistan.
