"This is the first dry season after 2020, when there was a total ban on climbing due to COVID-19. With foreign climbers absent, many are now unemployed and struggling to provide for their families. Between promotion and protectionIndustry insiders say another major reason for cancellations is the government's sharp increase in climbing fees. Hussain compared Pakistan's fees to Nepal, which charges $15,000 for Everest permits. "We are doing our best to promote climbing, but we must also protect the mountains," he said