Pak, China Expedition to foster friendship: ACP
Source : Business Recorder Date : August 01, 2013
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ISLAMABAD: A three-member Pakistani team reached here after their triumphant climb to 7,546 metre high Muztagh Ata peak in China named as Pakistan-China Friendship Expedition 2013 aiming to promote friendship between both the mountaineering countries.
A three-member expedition participated in the Friendship Expedition that comprised skilled climbers including Rehmatullah, Dr Naveed Iqbal and Ahmed Mujtaba.
In a press conference organized here at Pakistan Sports Complex on Wednesday Lt Col (R) Manzoor Hussain, President Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) and all members congratulated the Pakistani team on their successful climb at Mt Muztagh Ata.
President ACP praised their dogged determination, strength and climbing skills and congratulated the team on attaining laid down objectives of the expedition. He also thanked the Chinese side for their support in launching this expedition.
Pak-China expedition was organized by Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMA) and ACP after the recent sad incident at the Nanga Parbat base camp where 10 foreign mountaineers including two Chinese were killed.
"The Pak-China expedition was kept aiming to honor the Chinese mountaineers and the Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMA) on behalf of the Pakistani mountaineering community," he said.
The president said the ACP and CMA decided to initiate this joint Pak-China expedition to ascend Muzhtagh Ata.
The Pakistani team left Islamabad by road for Pak China border at Khunjerab Pass on Karakoram Highway on July 5 and was received by officials of CMA after crossing over the border and arrival at Tashkurgan on July 7.
Later, the team travelled to Kashgar to meet the Chinese side which comprised Youngfung, Vice President CMA, expedition leader and five Chinese members and later arrived 4,200 metres high Muztagh Ata Base camp on July 10.
In their final attempt for the summit the expedition climbed to Camp I (5,200) on July 21 and then were in Camp II (6,000 m) on July 22. The expedition was able to reach Camp III (6,900 m) on July 23. Despite of bad weather the Pakistani team accompanied by Chinese members departed from Camp III for their summit and managed to reach the summit of 7,546m Mt Muztagh Ata on July 24.