Nepal Embassy in Islamabad marks 73rd International Everest Day celebration

Kathmandu – The Embassy of Nepal in Islamabad celebrated the 73rd International Everest Day on Friday with a program themed “Mount Everest: Identity and Pride of Nepal.”

The event began with a special video message from Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal regarding Everest Day. Nepal’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Rita Dhital, commemorated the historic first successful ascent of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, highlighting that climbing Everest is a testament to extraordinary willpower, resilience, and cooperation.

Ambassador Dhital expressed concern over the increasing environmental degradation and glacial melting in the Himalayan region due to climate change, emphasizing the need for effective international cooperation to address these issues.

She discussed Nepal’s initiatives like the “Cash for Trash” cleanup campaign and highlighted significant tourism campaigns such as “Nepal Wellness Year 2027” and “Visit Nepal Year 2028,” aiming to establish Nepal as a sustainable and high-value tourism destination.

The program also featured addresses from Prime Minister’s Tourism Advisor and National Tourism Coordinator Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, Managing Director of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Aftab ur Rehman Rana, and President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan Irfan Arshad. They emphasized the importance of exchanging experiences and practices in the mountaineering sector and expanding cooperation between Nepal and Pakistan.

On this occasion, Ambassador Dhital honored four Pakistani climbers who successfully summited Everest. The climbers shared their mountaineering experiences with the attendees.

Counselor of the embassy, Purushottam Dhungel, provided insights into the potential of Nepal’s adventure tourism.

The event showcased audiovisual materials related to the world’s tallest mountains, scenic mountain ranges, and adventure tourism activities. It was attended by Everest climbers from Pakistan, senior government officials, ambassadors and high commissioners from various countries, diplomats, and representatives from the tourism sector.