Carlos Alberto Pinelli – True Friend Of Pakistan
By Asem Mustafa Awan
ISLAMABAD, September 2018- Carlos Alberto Pinelli a true friend of Pakistan aspires to bring back tourism to Pakistan besides improving the quality of life for the communities living in the mountaineering regions.
Carlos visited Pakistan in 1959 as a university student and was the youngest member of the mountaineering expedition climbing Saraghrar Peak 7350 metres.
He has been on many mountaineering expeditions including the Free K-2 expedition in 1990 where his organization cleared tons of trash and litter left by other expeditions.
At 83 he is still young at heart and has many a suggestions that can bring back the tourism in Pakistan and present a soft image of the country that is tarnished since long owing to practices that have stayed unchecked for decades.
He was conferred with Sitara-i-Imtiaz a few years ago for his commitment in the field of mountaineering which particularly focused on the community.
He is an environmentalist and a humanitarian and as founder of Mountain Wilderness International which has members scattered all over the world. The organization trains local people in mountaineering and trekking and his visit to Pakistan was part of a training session which he conducted for the locals in Swat.
In his exclusive interview with The Dayspring Carlos was off the opinion the Swat Valley has exquisite natural habitat and is approachable by road for local, domestic and foreign tourists. The need is to make laws so that scenic beauty is safeguarded.
“It is with deep regret the forest and the valley is littered with filth,” said Carlos adding, “The thing that can safeguard this scenic beauty is to make people aware that you can’t litter the natural habitat and change in behaviour is needed to make them realize what they are doing is wrong.”
“I have been associated with parks in Italy, people go over there if they create any garbage they are penalized on the spot.”
Swat Valley if declared as a park will generate more as it will have the presence of the local people as rangers who can safeguard the sanctuary and also provide services to the tourist in the form of trekking and mountaineering.”
“You need to respect the mountain hear what it says, mountains have a voice and you have to approach them in a humble way.”
Answering a query about local climbers and trekkers which have been certified by Mountain Wilderness International he said, “MWI has given them the basics of skills in climbing and trekking and with practice they will improve. Safety is the key in climbing and they have been taught by the MWI Climbing Instructors from Italy.
MWI has conducted course in Passu, Shimshal, Chitral and Swat and these places are nurseries for Pakistani climbers and with the training they will have their presence in the international expeditions and will safeguard the mountains and its habitat.
Carlos an avid archaeologist stated that Italian presence in Swat has been over half a century and Professor Giuseppe Tucci was the first Italian to make the archeological survey in Swat. He died but his mission continues and Saidu Sharif museum is one of his marks in Pakistan.
Not long ago there has been a new discovery of a walled city and the Italian Prof Luca Maria Olivieri is doing the research there. It is believed that the remains could be as old the oldest civilizations that are of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa in Pakistan.
Professor Lucca is also conferred Sitara-i-Imtiaz for his archaeological work in Pakistan which he has been conducting since 1987 and considers Pakistan as his second home.