The Gilgit-Baltistan government has officially increased the permit fees for climbing K2, Pakistan’s tallest and the world’s second-highest peak.
According to a recent government notification, the fee for climbers wishing to tackle K2 will now reach up to $5,000.
The notification outlined specific seasonal fee adjustments, setting the permit cost at $2,500 per climber during autumn and $1,500 during winter. For Pakistani climbers, the fee has escalated from 30,000 rupees to 100,000 rupees. The fee for tracking foreign climbers has also risen from $100 to $300.
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This adjustment also affects other peaks above 8,000 meters within the region, with fees now ranging from $9,000 to $28,000 depending on the mountain and the season.
Moreover, the notification stipulates that climbers are limited to one mountain per permit, necessitating separate permits for expeditions targeting multiple peaks. It also caps expedition groups at no more than 20 members. Another significant change is the mandatory insurance coverage for high-altitude porters, set at 2 million rupees.
These updated regulations and fees aim to regulate the growing number of expeditions better, enhance safety, and ensure comprehensive oversight of climbing activities in Gilgit-Baltistan’s mountainous terrains.
