22/06/2026
Golden Jubilee of First Ascent of Paiyu (6660m) Celebrated in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD:
Mountaineers, tourism professionals, and media representatives gathered in Islamabad to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the first ascent of Paiyu Peak (6,660 metres), marking 50 years of Pakistan’s most significant mountaineering achievements.
The ceremony commemorated the historic 1976 expedition during which renowned Pakistani mountaineer Nazir Sabir and his teammates successfully made the first ascent of the peak. Colonel Manzoor Hussain was the expedition leader of the pioneering team was also present at the occasion.
The expedition is regarded as a landmark achievement in the development of Pakistani mountaineering and remains one of the earliest major successes by an all-Pakistani climbing team.
Addressing the gathering, Nazir Sabir reflected on the challenges of the historic climb and the remarkable progress of mountaineering in Pakistan over the past five decades. Sabir is widely recognized as the first Pakistani to summit Mount Everest, achieving the feat on May 17, 2000, and for his successful ascent of K2 in 1981, along with several other 8,000-metre peaks.
Among the distinguished guests was Sirbaz Khan, the first Pakistani climber to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks without supplemental oxygen. His presence highlighted Pakistan’s growing stature in high-altitude mountaineering and inspired aspiring climbers.
The event also acknowledged the achievement of Saad Munawar, who successfully summited Mount Everest via the challenging northern route in 2025, further enhancing Pakistan’s reputation in international mountaineering circles.
Speakers paid tribute to Nazir Sabir for his leadership and contribution to the historic Paiyu Peak expedition and praised his role in promoting adventure sports and mountain exploration in Pakistan.
The ceremony was attended by internationally renowned journalist Diaa Hadid and Discovery Pakistan Managing Director Nazim Ullah Baig, along with prominent climbers, adventure tourism experts, and members of the Alpine Club community.
Participants stressed the importance of preserving Pakistan’s mountaineering heritage and encouraging young people to pursue adventure sports. They noted that the first ascent of Paiyu Peak paved the way for future generations of Pakistani climbers to achieve success on some of the world's highest mountains.
The event concluded with commemorative presentations, photographs, and discussions on the future of adventure tourism and mountain sports in Pakistan.
