Under the leadership of Naila Kiani, Mashreq Bank’s Climb2Change initiative successfully completed a historic cleanup of K2's higher camps, removing 1.727 tons of waste. The mission aimed to tackle environmental challenges in Pakistan's northern regions, particularly on K2 and the Karakoram mountain range.
The expedition lasted 50 days, during which the team endured extreme weather conditions while cleaning Camps 1, 2, and 3, reaching an altitude of 7,300 meters. The waste collected included plastic, old ropes, discarded tents, oxygen tanks, wrappers, and drink cans. Maria Conceicao, the first Portuguese woman to summit K2, also played a key role in this mission.
The team managed to remove 500 kilograms of waste from the higher camps of K2, where every kilogram required immense effort due to the harsh altitude challenges. This waste was handed over to the Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP) for proper disposal in accordance with national environmental standards.
Expressing her satisfaction with the success of the mission, Naila Kiani stated, "This is a significant step, but one-time cleanups aren’t enough. The government needs to enforce strict regulations to prevent further pollution, especially in areas frequented by tourists."
She also expressed her gratitude to the CKNP team and local partners who helped make the mission successful.
The cleanup effort brought benefits to the local community as well. Over 47 local businesses and more than 200 community members were involved, reflecting Mashreq Bank’s strong commitment to environmental conservation and social development.
This mission stands as a milestone not only for environmental protection but also for promoting sustainability in some of Pakistan’s most remote and elevated regions.
