KATHMANDU: The government has announced felicitating the winner summiteers of higher peaks including Mount Everest with special titles and awards.

Prime Minister KP Oli has announced to initiate recognizing the mountaineers who successfully scaled the peaks including Mount Everest and kept the country’s image and identify high from the government’s front with special titles.

In his address to a program organized at PM’s official residence, Baluwatar, today to felicitate the Nepali team of 10 mountaineers, who made a record for successfully climbing the world’s second-highest peak K2 in the winter season, PM Oli said those making outstanding contributions to mountaineering sector would be honored in a special manner.

“The government would distinctly honor the mountaineers. There are different types of awards and titles in place at the national level. Arrangement But there has been so far no arrangement of separate title in the field of the expedition.

From now onward we will arrange expedition award, it may be like ‘Mountaineer Tiger’, ‘Mountain Tops’ or other honorary titles. We will come up with criteria for awards and titles”, he added.

The Prime Minister further said that the successful climbing of Mount K2 in a difficult time was an inspiring moment for all of us.

“Other sports except mountaineering are a trifle. Winning chess and becoming a successful summiteer of Mount Everest is different. All can get motivation from successful climbers. We should do something special for the country. I congratulate you for your work to elevate the country’s image and identity and also express my best wishes for your success in future endeavors,” he said.

He also suggested them to engage in the tourism adventure sector with cautions.

The 10 Nepali mountaineers are the first ever to reach atop the 8,611 meters high K2 in Pakistan during the winter season.

The team includes Nirmal Purja ‘nimsdai’, Migma David Sherpa, Mingma Tenjing Sherpa, Gyalzen Sherpa, Prem Chiri Sherpa, Dawa Sherpa, Kilu Sherpa, Mingma G, Dawa Tenjing Sherpa and Sona Sherpa.

This is the second record feat by Nirmal Purja, who had also made a world record in 2019 by climbing all 14 mountains above 8,000 meters in 6 months.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari also congratulated the record-keeping Nepali team of mountaineers who successfully reached atop Mount K2.

In her tweet, President Bhandari said it was glory for the entire Nepal and Nepali people for the successful ascent to Mount K2 by Nepali mountaineers while reciting the national anthem.