Islamabad (TDI): The Embassy of Nepal in Pakistan held a special ceremony on Friday to mark International Mount Everest Day, commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the first successful summit of the world’s highest peak.
The event, themed “Sagarmatha, the Highest Peak of the World: Identity and Pride of Nepal,” was held at the Capital Ballroom of Movenpick Hotel, drawing senior Pakistani officials, diplomats, mountaineers, and members of the tourism community.
International Everest Day is observed every year on May 29, the date in 1953 when Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal became the first climbers confirmed to have stood atop Mount Everest.
The ceremony opened with the national anthems of both Nepal and Pakistan, setting a tone of bilateral goodwill. The Nepalese Ambassador, Rita Dhital, then delivered welcome remarks.
After her address, a video message was played from Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shisir Khanal, followed by an introductory video showcasing Nepal’s famed 8,000-metre peaks.
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A highlight of the evening was the address by Major General (Retd) Irfan Arshad, President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, who was the Guest of Honor of the evening.
His remarks were accompanied by a video clip capturing Everest summit moments of Pakistani climbers; a fitting tribute to Pakistan’s own proud tradition of high-altitude mountaineering.
Pakistani Everest summiteers also delivered personal messages on the significance of the day. The Nepal Embassy presented a dedicated segment on adventure tourism in Nepal, underlining the country’s unparalleled mountaineering landscape.
Aftab ur Rehman Rana, Managing Director of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), also attended as Guest of Honor and addressed participants on the synergies between Nepal and Pakistan’s shared adventure tourism potential.
Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, Pakistan’s Coordinator on Tourism, served as Chief Guest and delivered closing remarks before the Ambassador of Nepal presented Tokens of Honor to the chief guest, guests of honor, and Everest summiteers.
Both Nepal and Pakistan, home to the bulk of the world’s highest peaks, increasingly recognize adventure tourism as a vehicle for bilateral cooperation and economic growth.
