KATHMANDU: Addressing a program marking the 73rd International Everest Day on Friday, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Khadak Raj Paudel (Ganess), expressed deep concern over the severe impact of climate change on Nepal’s mountains.

He warned that global warming is rapidly melting glacial lakes and drying up fresh water sources, urging the global community to prioritize mountain preservation.

Emphasizing that sustainable mountain tourism is vital for national pride, economic prosperity, and poverty alleviation, Minister Paudel described climbing Mt. Everest—first conquered by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953—as far more than a physical milestone.

He beautifully characterized mountaineering as a deeply spiritual, meditative journey that strips away human ego, reminding everyone that the mountains are both the world’s largest freshwater source and a sacred heritage essential to human survival.