The Silent Burden Bearers of the Mountains: The Untold Story of Pakistan’s Porters.

The mountain paths have always been a source of attraction for travelers. Snow-covered peaks, the soothing sound of flowing rivers, and the feeling of breathing in the open air under a vast blue sky—everything seems like a dream. But the hands that turn these dreams into reality often remain unnoticed. The hands that carry the burden of others, the feet that leave their marks on the rocky trails, and the people who are essential to every journey yet remain invisible—this is the story of the porters who make every traveler's destination possible but remain without a destination themselves.

A porter’s day doesn’t start with an alarm but with the burden of worries. His morning begins with the thought: "Will I get work today or not?" If a company owner writes his name down, he considers himself lucky. Otherwise, he spends the whole day waiting—just like a laborer standing in a marketplace, hoping someone will hire him. In the vast open spaces of the mountains, opportunities are scarce, and luck is even scarcer for these hardworking men.

own mules, which are not just animals for them but their only source of livelihood. These mules carry tourists’ luggage to far-off places where ordinary people cannot easily reach. But the law of nature is the same for all—every living being gets tired. When a mule becomes exhausted, falls sick, or refuses to move, the porter has no choice. He must carry the burden himself, lifting loads that even machines struggle to bear, and continue walking on the unforgiving rocky trails.

This journey is not easy. Sometimes, they must endure the scorching sun; other times, they are drenched in heavy rain or shivering in the unbearable cold of glaciers. At night, when porters rest in a valley, they don’t have warm beds or hot meals waiting for them. They sleep on the ice or curl up next to their mules to keep warm. They close their eyes, but sleep rarely comes because their minds are already occupied with the burden of the next day.

On the other side, there are those who profit from the porters’ hard work. The company owners turn tourism into a business and control every aspect of a porter’s life. These companies arrange accommodations, food, and travel for tourists while hiring porters to carry the loads. Some honest owners ensure porters get their fair wages, but most delay payments for months or pay in small installments as if they are doing them a favor.

If a foreign tourist notices the porters’ struggles and offers them a tip out of kindness, even that money sometimes ends up in the company’s hands. If given a chance, they take a share of the tip too, leaving the porter with almost nothing. His bones ache, his sweat drips, and he faces one of life’s toughest challenges, yet he only receives a small fraction of what he truly deserves.

This cycle repeats every year. The seasons change, tourists come and go, and companies continue to make profits, but the fate of these porters remains the same. Their world consists of rugged trails, heavy loads on their backs, the shadow of unfulfilled hopes, and a journey that never truly ends.

If you are aware of these conditions, share your thoughts. And if you were unaware, read this piece carefully, look at the images I created with AI, and decide for yourself what the truth really is.

Please, Hive Team, do not consider these images copyrighted.🙏🙏