Pakistani Expedition Reopens Historic Phargam An Pass in Hindu Kush -

KPCTA Promotes Sustainable Adventure Tourism in Chitral

TIMES REPORT

CHITRAL: A Pakistani mountaineering expedition has successfully reopened the historic Phargam An Pass (5,100m) in the Hindu Kush, becoming the first Pakistani team to cross and summit the remote pass after a gap of 27 years. The expedition also made history as women reached the summit of the pass for the first time.

Organized under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), the expedition is part of a broader initiative to revive forgotten mountain routes, promote sustainable adventure tourism, and highlight the trekking and mountaineering potential of Upper Chitral.

The challenging expedition crossed glaciers, steep snowfields, unstable rocky terrain, and avalanche-prone slopes linking Laspur Valley with Golain Valley. Team members also rediscovered a memorial plaque dedicated to Austrian mountaineer Georg Kronberger, who lost his life in the area in 1975.

The summit team included Kamran Khan, the first to reach the top, along with Mehrosh Akhtar, Samar Khan, Noman Khan, Noormal Rehman, Zohaib Khan, Omar Khitab Sheerani, Sohniya Babar, Amina Shabbir, and Madeeha Syed. Expedition members also included Omar Khan, Umair Khalil, and volunteers Smell Rose and Madhu Shala Akhtar.

A major highlight of the expedition was the participation of Mehrosh Akhtar, Smell Rose, and Madhu Shala Akhtar—three sisters from Chitral—who became the first women to summit the historic pass, marking a significant milestone for women’s participation in Pakistan’s adventure tourism.

The expedition was led by experienced mountain guide Zamurd Khan, who noted that climate change has significantly altered the route due to glacier retreat, avalanches, and rockfalls, making the crossing more challenging than ever.

KPCTA officials said the expedition forms part of the Tirich Mir Project, which aims to identify and document new trekking routes while promoting Chitral as a premier destination for sustainable mountain tourism. They said reopening Phargam A Pass not only revives an important historic route but also preserves the rich exploration heritage of the Hindu Kush and inspires future generations of Pakistani adventurers.