A Pakistani expedition has successfully crossed and summited the remote Phargam An Pass in the Hindu Kush for the first time in 27 years, while women climbers reached the 5,100-metre summit for the first time, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The expedition, supported by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), reopened the historic high-altitude route connecting the Laspur Valley in Upper Chitral with the Golain Valley in Lower Chitral.

The expedition, supported by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), reopened the historic high-altitude route connecting the Laspur Valley in Upper Chitral with the Golain Valley in Lower Chitral.

The team navigated glaciers, steep snow slopes, loose rock, and avalanche-prone terrain to complete the crossing.

Kamran Khan became the first climber to reach the summit, accompanied by Mehrosh Akhtar, Samar Khan, Noman Khan, Noormal Rehman, Zohaib Khan, Omar Khitab Sheerani, Sohniya Babar, Amina Shabbir, and Madeeha Syed.

The expedition also marked the first successful ascent of the pass by women, with Mehrosh Akhtar among those making history. Chitrali sisters Smell Rose and Madhu Shala Akhtar also participated.

Led by local guide Zamurd Khan, the team reported that changing mountain conditions, including rockfalls and retreating glaciers, had significantly altered the route since previous crossings.

During the climb, they rediscovered a memorial plaque dedicated to Austrian mountaineer Georg Kronberger, who died in the area in 1975.

Officials said the expedition formed part of the KPCTA’s Tirich Mir Project, which aims to identify and document historic trekking routes and promote sustainable adventure tourism in Upper Chitral.

They added that reopening Phargam An Pass would help showcase the region’s mountaineering potential while preserving its exploration heritage.

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