MANSEHRA: As part of the Skardu-Islamabad peace walk, 12 mountaineers reached here on Thursday after covering 850km.

One of them holds the record of scaling the world`s second largest peak, K-2, without oxygen.

The mountaineers went to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, where doctors and the Frontier Medical College students led by Kath medical superintendent Dr Naeem Awan showered them with rose petals.The 1000km walk began in Ghancha valley in Skardu on March 13 and will end in the federal capital.

One of the walk organisers,Ghulam Hussain, said mountaineers led by Hassan Jan were participating in the event to promote interfaith harmony in the country as well as in the world.

`We feel that the world is a peaceful place but the people with vested interest want to disturb the world`s peace, which is unacceptable to us at any cost. It is why the world`s noted mountaineers are participating in this walk,` he said.

He said Hassan Jan, who twice scaled K-2, once without oxygen, led the walk.

He said another walk participants, Ghulam Mehdi, also scaled K2 and all other high mountains in the country`s northern areas.

Hussain said other participants of the walk scaled all five major peaks with over 8000 feet of elevation in Gilgit-Baltistan.

`We have no words to express our emotions on the great hospitality extended by thelocalpeople.Ifanyone from here wants to become mountaineer, we will give him freetraining a Skardu centre,` he said.

Kath medical superintendent Dr Naeem Awan said he and FMC students were very much happy to receive the `messenger of peace and love.

He said hiking and mountaineering were healthy activities and therefore, youths, especially students, should participate in them.

`In the past, medical college students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including girls, used to be active members of mountaineering clubs but that is no more the case. We all should work together to revive it,` he said.

Dr Naeem said the region had great opportunities for local youths interested in mountaineering as Saiful Muluk lake located at 3200 feet altitude could be used for the purpose.

`We also have the highest peak of Nanga Purbat with 5000 feet height,` he said, adding mountaineering prevents diseases.

Later, mountaineers resumed the walk.