ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army began a search operation on the world’s ninth-highest mountain, the Nanga Parbat, on Thursday, in a bid to rescue two foreign mountaineers who have been missing since February 24.
Italian Ambassador to Pakistan, Stefano Pontecorvo on Thursday said, the Pakistan army “has authorized a helicopter for a search and rescue mission on the Nanga Parbat in the area in which Daniele Nardi and Tom Ballard should presumably be.”
He added that the rescue helicopter deployed for the purpose “is flying and approaching the area of Nanga Parbat where they could be.”
Daniel Nardi, a 42-year-old seasoned Italian winter alpinist, and Tom Ballard a 31-year-old mountaineer from the United Kingdom, were attempting a winter ascent along the demanding Mummery Ridge route on the mountain when they lost contact on Sunday, February 24. As part of his last conversation with his wife, Nardi had said that they were at 6,300 meters and descending.
Leading the rescue mission is mountaineer Ali Sadpara, the first Pakistani to summit the Nanga Parbat in a winter ascent, along with two other local mountaineers.
“Ali Sadpara is on board. [The] weather [is] still conducive to search. Praying for a speedy and positive outcome. Thank you to Pak Army for assistance,” Pontecorvo said.
Nanga Parbat, locally known as Diamer, is located 8,126 meters (26,660 ft) above sea level. Located in the Diamer District of Gilgit Baltistan, Parbat is one of the 14 eight-thousanders mountains recognized by the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation or UIAA. Due to its notoriously difficult climb, it is also known as the “killer mountain.”
Pakistan army mobilizes search operations for foreign mountaineers
Pakistan army mobilizes search operations for foreign mountaineers
World Bank president in Pakistan to discuss development projects, policy issues
- Pakistan, World Bank are currently gearing up to implement a 10-year partnership framework to grant $20 billion loans to the cash-strapped nation
- World Bank President Ajay Banga will hold meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials during the high-level visit
ISLAMABAD: World Bank President Ajay Banga has arrived in Pakistan to hold talks with senior government officials on development projects and key policy issues, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday, as Islamabad seeks multilateral support to stabilize economy and accelerate growth.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan and the World Bank are gearing up to implement a 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to grant $20 billion in loans to the cash-strapped nation.
The World Bank’s lending for Pakistan, due to start this year, will focus on education quality, child stunting, climate resilience, energy efficiency, inclusive development and private investment.
"World Bank President Ajay Banga arrives in Pakistan for a high-level visit," the state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported on Sunday. "During his stay, he will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials to discuss economic reforms, development projects, and key policy issues."
Pakistan, which nearly defaulted on its foreign debt obligations in 2023, is currently making efforts to stabilize its economy under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
Besides efforts to boost trade and foreign investment, Islamabad has been seeking support from multilateral financial institutions to ensure economic recovery.
“This partnership fosters a unified and focused vision for your county around six outcomes with clear, tangible and ambitious 10-year targets,” Martin Raiser, the World Bank vice president for South Asia, had said at the launch of the CPF in Jan. last year.
“We hope that the CPF will serve as an anchor for this engagement to keep us on the right track. Partnerships will equally be critical. More resources will be needed to have the impact at the scale that we wish to achieve and this will require close collaboration with all the development partners.”
In Dec., the World Bank said it had approved $700 million in financing for Pakistan under a multi-year initiative aimed at supporting the country's macroeconomic stability and service delivery.
It followed a $47.9 million World Bank grant in August last year to improve primary education in Pakistan's most populous Punjab province.
