From the windows of his home in Hunza, in northern Pakistan, Mueez Ud Din grew up looking out at the peaks that define the Karakoram skyline. Among them, one mountain always stood out: Spantik, rising to 7,027 metres. For years, it was more than just a summit. It became a constant presence, a source of inspiration, and a reminder of the dream that one day he might climb it.
In the valleys of northern Pakistan, mountaineering has long played a vital role—often behind the scenes. For decades, major expeditions and first ascents were led by foreign climbers, while local communities supported them as porters, cooks and logistics teams. Mueez belongs to a new generation determined to change that narrative: climbers who want to become protagonists of their own mountain stories.
In June 2025, together with French alpinist Mathieu Maynadier and his mentor Javed Ali, Mueez set out on a project that reached far beyond the summit itself. Crossing a little-explored glacier and navigating unstable weather, the team established a new route on Spantik. It was a demanding ascent that called for adaptability, determination and complete trust in one another. More than that, it marked an important step towards a more independent future for Pakistani alpinism.
Today, Mueez’s journey continues with an even more ambitious goal: becoming the first Pakistani to earn IFMGA certification, one of the highest professional standards for mountain guides anywhere in the world. A milestone that could open the door for a new generation of climbers across the Karakoram, creating professional opportunities while helping build internationally recognised mountain expertise within local communities.
This is the story behind Zindabad, a documentary that follows the Spantik expedition while exploring the deeper meaning of exploration itself. Because opening a new route is never only about the mountain—it is about creating new possibilities for the people who call these landscapes home. Premiered at the Chamonix Film Festival in June 2026, Zindabad shows how the mountains can become a place where opportunity, growth and lasting change begin.
