A surge in mountain tourism is rapidly depleting the limited energy supply at the gateway to ascend K2, the world's second-highest peak.Siddiqa, a tailor and handicraft maker who goes by one name, has seen her earnings fall alongside the number of hours of electricity. / Photo: AFP
A surge in mountain tourism, driven by climbers and Pakistanis looking to escape heatwaves, is rapidly depleting the limited energy supply at the gateway to ascend K2, the world's second-highest peak. "Due to the increase in population and tourism activities, load shedding hours have increased," Muhammad Yunus, a senior engineer for the regional government's water and power department, said.
"When we started this business in 2014, there was no issue of power," she said."Now, I have replaced all the electric machines and brought hand sewing machines."