ISLAMABAD: The mountaineering season in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit Baltistan province has suffered an unprecedented blow this year due to climate change-induced disasters.
This season, international climber arrivals to the region—once a cornerstone of Pakistan’s adventure tourism—plunged by nearly 90%.”
According to a statement issued by the Alpine Club of Pakistan on Tuesday, unpredictable climate disasters, coupled with international conflicts and domestic challenges, have devastated livelihoods across the mountainous region.
Official data reveals that only 270 international climbers visited Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) this season to attempt some of the world’s most iconic peaks — including K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, and Nanga Parbat.
This marks a sharp decline from over 2,000 foreign climbers and trekkers who visited the region last year.
Severe weather conditions — including avalanches, rockfalls, and high winds — forced many expeditions to turn back.
As a result, just 40 climbers successfully summited K2, 25 reached the top of Nanga Parbat, and only a handful managed to scale Gasherbrum-I.
Domestic tourism also witnessed a significant drop. Last year, GB welcomed over one million local tourists, along with approximately 24,000 foreign visitors without climbing permits.
This year, both domestic and international tourist numbers have fallen dramatically, dealing a serious blow to the region’s already fragile economy.
Disputes over increased permit fees, geopolitical conflicts such as the Iran-Israel war, strained ties between Pakistan and India, and harsh weather conditions are the main reasons for the below-average tourism season.
Hotel owners, shopkeepers, transporters, porters, artisans, and small tea stall operators along the Karakoram Highway are all struggling to survive. Many who invested heavily in tourism-related ventures in recent years are now finding it difficult to cover even basic expenses such as rent and employee salaries.
President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Major General Irfan Arshad has expressed deep concern over the crisis, saying: “Mountaineering is the lifeline of Gilgit-Baltistan, and this year’s collapse has created a ripple effect of losses across all sectors.”
He added: “It is imperative for the government to address policy challenges, resolve disputes with stakeholders, and take urgent measures to revive and promote both domestic and international adventure tourism in the coming seasons.”
