KATHMANDU, JUNE 26 Tsum Nubri Rural Municipality of Gorkha district has nominated record-holding woman climber Phunjo Jangmu Lama as its tourism goodwill ambassador. A general assembly of the rural municipality unanimously endorsed Phunjo's name as the tourism goodwill ambassador as the country marks the 70th anniversary of the successful ascent of Mount Manaslu, which is situated in the Tsum Valley, said Rural Municipality Chairman Nima Lama. 'We are very glad to name Phunjo as the tourism goodwill ambassador, as she is the jewel of our nation,' Chairman Lama said, adding that her nomination was endorsed by the general assembly attended by rural municipality representatives and locals. According to Lama, as goodwill ambassador, Phunjo will help promote tourism in the Manaslu region. 'It's a great honour, and I will leave no stone unturned to promote the area in the world,' Phunjo said. Besides the mountains, the valley has a unique tradition. Tsum Nubri, which completed 105 years of the declaration of a non-violence zone, had also promulgated the Shyagya Tradition Preservation Act, 2023, with a view to contributing to the recognition, continuity, dissemination, and protection of biological diversity in the non-violence area. 'Phunjo's nomination will add another milestone to our efforts,' Chairman Lama added. Trained in the Swiss Alps and Nepal's Himalayas, Phunjo set the world record, becoming the fastest female to scale the world's highest peak in under 15 hours. In 2024, she reached the summit of Mount Everest from Base Camp in 14 hours and 31 minutes. Phunjo, the trailblazing mountaineer and Himali Outdoor athlete, also set the fastest record for the Base Camp–Everest Summit–Base Camp climb, completing it in just 24 hours and 26 minutes, as she descended to Base Camp from the summit in 9 hours and 18 minutes. Professional mountaineer Phunjo, who is the first Nepali female helicopter long-line rescuer, has already been awarded the Tenzing–Hillary Award by the government. Born in Chhokangpaaro village of Tsum Valley, Phunjo scaled Mount Everest, Mount Manaslu, Mount Cho Oyu, and other peaks, including Ama Dablam, Lobuche, and Denali. She has also supported rural and marginalised communities in areas of livelihood, education, and sustainable development.