Pakistan climbers scale new heights

Kiani, Baig first Pakistani women to scale Nanga Parbat on a day two pre-teen boys summited 6,000m Khosrow Gang

GILGIT:

 

Pakistan achieved two major feats in mountaineering on Sunday, as two boys of age eight and 12 scaled over 6,000 metres tall Khosar Gang peak, while top female mountaineers became the first Pakistani women to summit Nanga Parbat.

Naila Kiani and Samina Baig scaled the treacherous 8,125-metre-tall Nanga Parbat – the world’s ninth-highest mountain. Alpine Club of Pakistan Secretary Karar Haidri said Naila and Samina reached the peak of the mountain at 10:18am and 11:08am, respectively.

Besides Naila and Samina, their Pakistani male fellow mountaineers, who also achieved the feat on the same day, included Rizwan Dad, Wajid Nagri, Waqar Ali, Eid Muhammad, Ahmed Baig, Saeed Karim, Shah Daulat and Liaqat Karim.

All of them climbed the mountain without supplemental oxygen.

The Imagine Nepal, an expedition team, said that 10 of its members also climbed Nanga Parbat on Sunday. The Summit Karakoram said that Chris Warner from the US and three Nepalese Sherpas also summited the peak.

Nearly 28 other mountaineers from around the world also scaled the peak on Sunday -- making it the largest single-day Nanga Parbat summit.

“Numerous mountaineers and adventure fans all over the world are inspired by Naila Kiani’s unwavering resolve, unmatched abilities, and unwavering attitude,” Haidri wrote on his Facebook account.

“Naila serves as a bright example of how people can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles,” he added.

With a death probability of 21%, Nanga Parbat is one of the most dangerous mountains in the world. It has also earned the monicker of “Killer Mountain”.

“Given the number of lives lost during this summit, I was filled with fear, yet fully determined to accomplish my mission,” Naila, a Dubai-based Pakistani banker and amateur boxer said after her achievement.

“It brings me immense joy to have once again brought global pride to my beloved country,” Naila, a mother of two daughters, continued.

Just recently, Naila etched her name in history by scaling Mount Everest, the world”s highest mountain at 8,849 metres above sea level, and Mount Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world at 8,516 metres above sea level.
She also scaled Gasherbrum-II (8,035 metres) in 2021; Gasherbrum-I (8,068 metres) and K2 (8611 metres) in July 2022; and Annapurna I (8,091 metres) in 2023.

As for Samina, she was the first Pakistani woman to climb Mount Everest in 2014. Last year, she again scaled K2 along with her team, only three hours before Naila reached its top.

Samina, who hails from the village of Shimshal, also holds the record of being the first Pakistani among men and women to scale seven peaks in as many continents.

In 2010, Samina became the first person to scale the virgin peak Chashkin Sar with a height of 6,000 metres above sea level. It is now called the ‘Samina Peak’. In 2011, she also ascended another virgin peak. It was named ‘Koh-e-Brobar’ or ‘Mount Equality’ in the same year.

Meanwhile, Labik Shagri, eight, and Danesh Sadpara, 12, summited the 6,040 “courageously climbed Khosrow Gang (6040 metres) and added a new chapter to mountaineering”, Alpine Adventure Guides said on Twitter.

(WITH INPUT FROM AGENCIES)