Sunday 29th. February 2004

K-2 was first climbed on July 31st. 1954 by Lino Lacedelli & Achille Compagnoni, the members of Italian team led by Prof. Ardito Desio so the 2004 is being celebrated as the Golden Jubilee Year of K-2. After this great feat, the K-2 was climbed second time in the history of mountaineering in 1977 by a Japanese team of climbers and in the same team Mr. Ashraf Aman made the unique record of being the first Pakistani to climb K-2 on 9th. August. Later on, he was honoured by distinguished award of Pride of Performance ( sports ) on his achievement.

On 29th. February 2004, a prestigious program was jointly organized by The Adventure Club – Pakistan & The Hiking Association ( Majlis-e-Sehat ). The basic concept of this program was to celebrate the event and to pay a tribute to the climbers and their support teams, who made the history on K-2, especially to Pakistani climbers ( there are four Pakistani mountaineers, who were successful to stand atop K-2, they are Ashraf Aman, Nazir Sabir, Rajab Shah and Meharban Shah ). The two members of the 1977 team, the famous and internationally recognized Pakistani climbers, Sher Khan and Ashraf Aman grace the occasion with their appearance. Mr. Ashraf Aman, the first Pakistani K-2 climber was the Chief Guest of the program.

The program was participated by a large number of adventure enthusiasts and apart from local audience, guests came from Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Wah Cantt., Abbottabad, Gilgit, Hunza and Chitral. Overseas members of the Club from USA, Germany and the UK also participated in the program.

The program was a combination of outdoor & indoor activities. The program started with a demonstration of Rock Climbing, when the guests enjoyed the climb by the members of the Club at Chenab Rocks at River Chenab. The show was conducted by Mr. Khalid Sajjad, an active member of the Club. Mr. Imran, a fine young rock climber, Adnan, Danish Ahmed and Sajeel were other climbers.

Sher Khan & Ashraf Aman, both the dignitaries, enjoyed this show and announced their cooperation to provide equipment and technical support, if required.

The next program was another interesting and thrilling show of horse riding and tent pegging, which was organized and led by Syed Qamar Suleman, the patron of the program.

At 1100hrs. the indoor program started in a local auditorium. The program started with the recitation of holy Quran and then Mr. Qamar Suleman gave an opening address with the objective of this event. He invited the honourable guests Sher Khan and Ashraf Aman to the stage along with Mr. Abdul Jalil Sadiq, the President Majlis-e-Sehat and Ch. Mohammad Ali Sahib, the Patron in Chief of the Hiking Association and the guest of honour on the occasion.

Later on, Mr. Qamar Suleman invited Mr. Tahir Imran Khan on the stage for further proceedings. After a brief introduction of The Adventure Club – Pakistan, K-2 and the guests, he invited various speakers which includes, Mr. Abdul Jalil Sadiq, President, Majlis-e-Sehat, Mr. Iftikhar Mir, Lecturer Army Burn Hall College – Abbottabad, Mr. Abdul Samad Qureshi, Sports Incharge and senior teacher of Nusrat Jahan Academy, Raja Muneer Ahmad Khan and Mr. Nadeem Khan. The eminent speakers told about the participation of their institutions in adventure activities, especially in trekking and climbing.

A hi-tea was arranged for the audience and the guests in the green lawns, where an exhibition of climbing equipment was the attraction for the people from various walks of life.

In the second session, the famous climber of Pakistan ( Lt. Col. Retd. ) Sher Khan was invited for his address. The audience warmly welcomed him and listened his very interesting lecture with great interest and enthusiasm. Sher Khan told that he appreciate and congratulate the organizers to took the lead to hold this prestigious evening as nothing material is outcoming from the concerned authorities regarding the 50th. Anniversary of K-2. His address included his experiences on the K-2, Mount Everest, Nanga Parbat, Yukshan Gardan Sar and several other expeditions. Apart from climbing and as a fine and top class Polo player and Skier, the audience asked him several questions about these games.

The Chief Guest on the occasion Mr. Ashraf Aman, a very simple and straight forward personality from Hunza, when called to the stage, the audience warmly welcomed him. Ashraf Aman, an engineer by education and a successful and leading tour operator and expeditions organizer by profession, gave his pleasant remarks on the event. He said that the clubs and organizations could prove helpful in the promotion of climbing activities. He is surprised to see that people in south are taking active part in such activities, he added. He offered his full support for such activities. He also appreciated the elderly participants as it encourages youth and said that the young trekkers and adventure enthusiasts are lucky that they have the back up from their seniors.

His address was unique and apart from talking on general climbing, he pointed out the philosophical and spiritual aspects of climbing. He said that trekking and climbing is a tradition of prophets and messengers and it enhances love of nature. If a person is generally fit and normal in his senses, he can enjoy and witness the God everywhere.

After his very interesting address, Ch. Muhammad Ali Sahib thanked the honurable guests and delivered shields to the speakers and organizing committee. After the dua, the guests were invited for lunch, again in the lawns where the participants had a good opportunity to meet their heroes, to take autographs and make photographs.

The Adventure Club – Pakistan, announced that on the 50th. Anniversary of K-2, the Club has organized a trekking expedition to the base camp of K-2 ( July 15 to 31 ). The interested people can contact the Club for details.

Mr. Tahir Imran Khan said thanks to all the participants and especially to the guests came from other cities and to the members of the committee, who worked hard and made this program successful.

List of Guests

1. Mr. Nadeem Khan - Karachi
2. Mr. Razi-ud-Deen Khan - Lahore
3. Mr. Munawwar Hameed - Lahore
4. Mr. Tariq Rasheed - Lahore
5. Mr. Khalid Sajjad - Lahore
6. Mr. Adnan - Lahore
7. Mr. Muhammad Abduhu - Faisalabad
8. Mr. Muzaffar Syed - Islamabad
9. Ms. Durdana Syed - Islamabad
10. Ms. Amna Khan - Rawalpindi / Chitral
11. Mr. Nasir Shabbir - Wah Cantt.
12. Mr. Iftikhar Mir - Abbottabad
13. Mr. Abdul Hayee - USA
14. Mr. Tariq Ahmed Khan - Germany
15. Mr. Zubair Ahmed Khan - Germany
16. Mr. Dabeer Ahmed - England

The Organizing Committee

Report by
Tahir Imran Khan
Program Organizer

President
The Adventure Club – Pakistan
Islamabad – 0333-5128519
adventure@sat.net.pk
tahirimrankhan@hotmail.com
173/20, G-10/02 – Islamabad ( Pakistan )