Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) will hold another stakeholder and tour operator consultation meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue of increased pollution on Baltoro and K2 Base Camp Trek.
The meeting will be attended by senior officials from the PTDC, Alpine Club of Pakistan, the Himalayan Wildlife Foundation, Tour Operator associations, the adventure club, the Karakuram Club, the GB tourism department and others.
PTDC CEO Aftab Rana said more than 3,800 trekkers and mountaineers were registered this year, the highest number to date, and additional support staff were on hand to manage expeditions and trekking groups.
He said Pakistan had the best season for K2 climbing this year, but poor solid waste management on the trek route emerged as the biggest problem.
The name of Pakistan was highlighted in the mountaineering world, but at the same time negative news was also reported on environmental issues that highlighted pollution and waste management problems on the migratory route to K2 base camp “, he observed. Aftab Rana said that a strategy should be proposed to the government to adopt environmentally friendly management of expeditions on this route, which is now part of the Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP).
In the previous session, it was suggested that trained and certified porters be hired and that waste disposal during the trek could be ensured by providing waste collection bags to all groups participating in this trek so that they are picked up on their return.
Participants will develop a joint action plan for better waste management at these sites at the next meeting at PTDC headquarters.
From the mighty stretches of in the North to the vast alluvial delta of the Indus River in the South, Pakistan remains a land of high adventure and nature.
Trekking, mountaineering, white water rafting, wild boar hunting, mountain and desert jeep safaris, camel and yak safaris, trout fishing and bird watching, are a few activities, which entice the adventure and nature lovers to Pakistan.
