Report: Arfa Firoz Zeki. President of Alpine Club of Pakistan Major General (Retd) Irfan Arshad said that the support of Pakistan Army especially Marshal Asim Munir has always been for mountaineers and there is no leader who is more connected to sports.
Major General (retd) Irfan Erşed said in a special interview with Geonews that Field Marshal Asim Munir himself is an athlete, he always puts himself forward and supports all sports, especially hockey.
The president of the Alpine Club said that since 1993, I have climbed many mountains, including Kambarha Alpine Club, Keto and I requested Marshal Asim Munir to accept the Alpine Club as well.
General (retd) Irfan Arshad said that 62 of the 100 highest mountains in the world are in Pakistan and there are fourteen 8000 meters high mountains in the world, 5 of which are in Pakistan.
Continuing his speech, Irfan Ershad said that Himalaya, Hindu Kush, Keto are in Pakistan, but it is our fault that adventure sports are not successful because adventure sports is a million dollar industry, but Pakistan has less than a hundred million dollars in mountain tourism.
The President of Alpine Club said that the cost of climbing a high peak is one billion rupees for a mountaineer, it takes five million rupees to climb a peak in Pakistan.
He said that adventure sports will be promoted, mountain tourism will be promoted, which will bring foreign investment and climbing is not possible without special sponsorship including government, agencies.
Irfan Ershad said that sport climbing has been included in 2020 Olympics and now the aim is to represent Pakistan in 2028 Olympics, we want to build an international standard wall climbing which will be built next year.
The President of the Alpine Club said that mountaineering develops leadership qualities in sportsmen and we have a plan to introduce adventure sports in educational institutions, try to get jobs for mountaineers from government, federations and agencies.
