ISLAMABAD (APP):The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) has announced the launch of its second women-only mountaineering expedition, aiming to scale Khosar Gang (6,040 metres), a prominent peak in the scenic Shigar Valley of Baltistan in the Karakoram Range. The initiative is part of ACP’s ongoing efforts to promote women’s participation in mountaineering, adventure sports and outdoor leadership across the country.
The announcement follows the successful completion of ACP’s first all-women expedition to Bari La, organized during the club’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. The expedition brought together women climbers from all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, earning recognition at national and international levels. Building on that success, ACP has selected Khosar Gang as the objective for its second women-only expedition. Participants were chosen through a transparent selection process conducted by a committee of experienced women mountaineers led by renowned Pakistani climber Naila Kiani.
According to ACP, the expedition aims to provide female climbers with valuable high-altitude mountaineering experience, strengthen leadership skills and encourage greater participation of women in adventure sports. The selected participants include Zeba Batool and Bibi Afzoon from Gilgit-Baltistan, Ammara Sharif from Islamabad Capital Territory, Asma Bashir Bangash from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bisma Hassan and Sadia Maqbool from Punjab, Natasha Fateh Muhammad from Sindh, Bibi Malka from Balochistan, and Laiba Shakeel from Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The team is scheduled to depart from Skardu during the first week of July. The ACP will oversee all expedition logistics, coordination and operational support. The ACP leadership reaffirmed the club’s commitment to promoting mountaineering, adventure tourism, environmental awareness and gender inclusion in outdoor sports. The club said it would continue creating opportunities for young Pakistanis, particularly women, to explore and excel in the country’s mountain environment.
The club also announced that it would organize the K2 Baltoro Cleanup Expedition 2026 in September as part of its environmental conservation efforts. The initiative aims to help preserve the fragile mountain ecosystem, remove waste from trekking routes and raise awareness about responsible mountain tourism.
The ACP emphasized that Pakistan’s mountains are among the country’s most valuable natural assets and reiterated its commitment to their protection for future generations.
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