More than 2,200 foreign climbers and trekkers visited Gilgit-Baltistan (a mountainous region in northern Pakistan home to several of the world's highest peaks, including K2) between April and August 2026, surpassing last year's figures despite geopolitical turbulence in the Middle East that prompted travel advisories against visiting Pakistan. Officials say the regional government earned Rs350 million in permit fees by the end of June, with broader tourism numbers across open-zone areas expected to exceed 10,000 foreign visitors for the full year. The Alpine Club of Pakistan expressed optimism about the trend, noting that the mountaineering and trekking economy supports thousands of local jobs and generates millions of dollars for porters, hoteliers, and traders, with forecasts pointing to more than 4,000 foreign adventurers visiting the region in 2027.