ISLAMABAD: Serena Hotels, known for its commitment to Adventure Diplomacy, on Thursday hosted a dedicated evening to recognize and celebrate the remarkable achievements of seasoned mountaineers in Pakistan.
Under its Adventure Diplomacy initiative, Serena Hotels has played a pivotal role in supporting and sponsoring Pakistani mountaineers. Notably, the acclaimed young female mountaineer Samina Baig was among the first beneficiaries of Serena Hotels’ sponsorship, as she embarked on her journey to conquer some of the world’s most challenging peaks. Aziz Boolani, CEO of Serena Hotels, expressed his pride in Samina’s accomplishments and highlighted that her success marked the beginning of Serena Hotels’ commitment to Adventure Diplomacy. Samina Baig, along with her brother Mirza Ali Baig, achieved a historic feat by summiting the world’s top 7 peaks, earning her the prestigious Pride of Performance award in 2015.
Distinguished Pakistani Mountaineers Attend the Event
Another distinguished mountaineer, Sirbaz Khan, who has successfully summited 12 of the eight-thousanders without supplementary oxygen, credited Serena Hotels for playing a crucial role in his earlier achievements. The evening served as a platform to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of notable mountaineers like Sirbaz Khan, Sajid Sadpara, Nazir Sabir, Ashraf Aman, Mirza Ali Baig, Abdul Joshi, and Abdul Jabbar Bhatti.
The event featured inspiring narratives from veteran mountaineers Nazir Sabir and Ashraf Aman, who shared their remarkable journeys to motivate and inspire aspiring mountaineers in attendance. A poignant moment of silence was observed to pay tribute to the lives lost in the pursuit of their dreams, including ‘Ali Akbar Sakhi,’ ‘Muhammad Ali Sadpara,’ and ‘Muhammad Hassan.’
The evening also welcomed esteemed guests, including Tapas Adhikari, the Nepalese Ambassador to Pakistan, who shared insights about Nepal’s mountaineering heritage, considering its possession of eight of the Fourteen eight-thousanders. The event was further enriched by the presence of Ms. Amanda DeSadeleer, the Canadian First Secretary for Political and Public Affairs at the High Commission of Canada, who is a passionate adventure sports enthusiast.
The gathering aimed to spotlight the extraordinary talent within Pakistan’s mountaineering community and provided an opportunity for accomplished mountaineers to connect, share experiences, and inspire the next generation of adventurers.
