GILGIT, Pakistan: Gilgit-Baltistan, the capital of tourism in Pakistan and home to five of the world’s 14 peaks towering over 8,000 metres, witnesses a vibrant mountaineering season each summer.
Known for its breathtaking peaks and iconic glaciers, the region’s once-thriving adventure tourism industry has been impacted by different factors.
When winter sets in, adventure tourism grinds to a halt, leaving high-altitude porters and the region’s economy in dire straits. Over the past three years, only one climber has attempted winter ascents annually.
According to data from the Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP), Russian-Polish alpinist Denis Urubko was the only climber to attempt winter ascents in 2023 and 2024, both targeting Gasherbrum-I.
Unfortunately, his efforts were unsuccessful. No applications for winter climbing permits have been received for 2025, raising concerns about the future of winter expeditions in the region.
The CKNP Annual Visitors Report 2024 revealed a decline in tourist numbers, with 5,377 visitors and their teams recorded last year, compared to 5,742 in 2023.
Read Also: Pakistan’s Immense Potential for Religious Tourism
The report highlighted that in 2024, 2,316 climbers and trekkers, using 427 permits, explored iconic glaciers such as Baltoro, Biafo-Hisper, and Gondogoro La, while attempting peaks including K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, and Spantik.
Among these visitors, 1,992 were international climbers, 309 were domestic tourists, and only 15 were residents of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Pakistani Porters Struggle for Livelihood
Speaking to WE News English, high-altitude porter and climber Nazir Sadpara described the economic challenges faced by porters. “If someone doesn’t get work, it deeply impacts their financial stability,” he said.
Sadpara, who has summited major peaks including Gasherbrum-I twice, Broad Peak three times, and Spantik six times, highlighted the limited income opportunities for porters. He said a porter typically earns Rs 600,000 to Rs 700,000 during the summer climbing season.
While some with guiding licenses secure additional work, most porters must take on labour-intensive jobs, such as construction or stone-breaking, to sustain themselves through the off-season.
Sadpara is the brother of legendary climber Muhammad Raza, who tragically lost his life at Lady Finger Peak in 2001. After Raza’s death, Sadpara married his late brother’s widow, who had three children.
Together, they now support a family of six children—three of Sadpara’s own and three from his late brother, one of whom is married.
Sadpara works as a trekking guide after the climbing season, but this work is typically limited to the months leading up to October. Comparing the earnings of Nepali Sherpas with local porters, Sadpara highlighted significant disparities.
“Nepali Sherpas are hired for a lump sum, ranging from $8,000 to $10,000 or even more per peak. In contrast, experienced porters here earn Rs 8,000 to 10,000 per day,” he explained.
Porters in Gilgit-Baltistan face additional financial challenges when it comes to equipment. The porters get Rs 250,000 and Rs 300,000 for a complete climbing kit which is not even enough for climbing shoes.
However, due to their modest backgrounds, many porters save the money meant for kits, relying instead on borrowed or low-quality gear.
He said porters in Gilgit-Baltistan face significant financial challenges when it comes to acquiring proper equipment. “They receive Rs 250,000 to Rs 300,000 for a complete climbing kit, an amount that is often insufficient even to purchase high-quality climbing shoes. However, due to their modest backgrounds, many porters save the money meant for kits, relying instead on borrowed or low-quality gear, which compromises their safety and performance during expeditions,” he added.
Controversy Over Permit Fee Hike
Industry stakeholders have attributed the decline in winter tourism to a steep hike in permit fees. Naiknam Karim, CEO of Adventure Tours Pakistan and former general secretary of the Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO), called the fee increase an “assassination attempt on tourism.”
“The Gilgit-Baltistan government has increased fees by 500–600% over the past three years without consulting stakeholders. The sudden fee increase has not only ended winter tourism but is likely to reduce summer activity by 50–60%. No one is willing to come under these conditions,” Karim warned.
Karim also pointed out that adventure tourism is a labour-intensive industry, providing livelihoods for guides, hotel staff, porters, and cooks. “This was the best income option during winters when other labour activities are minimal. The government has effectively shut it down,” he lamented.
Responding to criticism, Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Deputy Secretary Zubaida Batool said the permit fee hike was not sudden and followed deliberations with stakeholders. “The increase was agreed upon in 2023 during a meeting with then-State Minister for Tourism Syed Wasi Shah and the PATO leadership,” she said.
Batool added that the Nepalese model was studied before implementing the hike. Regarding waste management, Batool revealed that a policy requiring climbers to bring back waste is under consideration, but a final decision has yet to be made. “Let’s hope everything turns out well,” she added.
Environmental Implications
The decline in winter tourism, while impacting livelihoods, is seen by some as an opportunity for environmental regeneration.
Ecologist Syed Yasir Abbas Rizvi from CKNP highlighted the environmental toll of trekking and climbing in 2024, which generated approximately 30 tons of waste, predominantly in high-altitude glaciated camps and trails. “The reduced footfall during winter allows fragile ecosystems to recover. However, winter expeditions demand more resources and result in significantly higher levels of pollution,” he explained.
