Annapurna Expedition – an ode to Pak mountaineers’ bravery

KATHMANDU – Being very aware of the seemingly impossible challenges, a team of 4 Pakistanis comprising lead mountain climbers Sirbaz Khan and Abdul Joshi, expedition manager Saad Munawar and photographer and storyteller Kamran Ali, has shown valour by embarking on the first ever All Pakistani Expedition to summit the Annapurna mountain.

Through this expedition, sponsored and collaborate by Manaky, they strived to represent the mountaineering community of Pakistan who are heroes in their own right. They’re also leading by example to emphasise that commitment, appreciation and support enables people to achieve the unthinkable. The group left Pakistan for Nepal on March 18 and was received with a very warm welcome from the locals at Kathmandu. They reached the base camp of Annapurna on March 23, where they raised the flag of Pakistan to honour Pakistan Day. This was followed by preparations to begin the climb, which would prove to be a long and gruelling task, but one that was met with determination and bravery by the mountaineers.

After intense challenges and hurdles, they successfully completed their reach to Camp 1 and Camp 2 in early April. The last rotations to Camp 3 and Camp 4 were completed between the last few days weighing out the weather conditions, and the summit has now been completed by Abdul Joshi and Sirbaz Khan with a confirmed update from Saad Munawar. The summit of the mighty Annapurna Range has now been achieved by #TeamPakistan, making their countrymen very proud and Manaky is delighted to have played a part in enabling this incredible journey!

The lead mountaineer of the expedition, Sirbaz Khan, set out on this mission to honour the legacy of the late Muhammad Ali Sadpara. He has done so by continuing Ali’s journey of the “Mission 14 Summit”, and now on successful completion of the summit of Annapurna with Abdul Joshi, has put Pakistan on the global map as one of the few countries to have attempted to ascend the top 14 highest mountains of the world, Annapurna being the most brutal one of them all.

By being at the forefront of sponsorship and collaboration of this expedition, Manaky has emerged as an exemplary organization that champions the progress of mountaineering in Pakistan. Manaky is an online marketplace that aims to revolutionize the way people experience the country. It seeks to empower locals with unique talent including artists, musicians, influencers, tour operators, urban and rural craftsmen and recreational service providers by providing an opportunity to deservingly showcase themselves on a platform with a global reach.