Pakistan Records New Historic Routes on Broad Peak and Gasherbrum I

A Pakistani-led expedition opened a new variation on Broad Peak (8,047 m), marking the first time a Pakistani team has established a new line on an 8,000‑metre summit. Led by Mirza Ali of Karakoram Expeditions, the team fixed more than 1,600 m of rope and named the "Mirza Ali Legacy Route" after a 24‑hour push through deep snow. The route bypasses the mountain's difficult V Section, reducing summit time to seven‑eight hours and descent to two‑three hours, which could attract international climbers and generate over $10 million a year in climbing tourism within five years.

Meanwhile, climbers on the Gasherbrum massif faced unstable weather. Teams from EliteExped, Imagine Nepal and individual developers such as Felix Berg (Germany) and Abid Baig (Pakistan) attempted the summits of Gasherbrum II and I, with several aborting due to avalanche risk and lack of ropes. A South Korean team also achieved the first ascent of the previously unclimbed 6,015 m Dost Peak in Gilgit‑Baltistan, naming it "Dost" (friend) and seeking official registration of the new summit.

These achievements highlight a surge in high‑altitude mountaineering activity in Pakistan, showcasing new routes, first ascents and the country's growing appeal to international alpinists.