A medic's dream to conquer the climbing world

Dr Shahida challenges patriarchal barriers with her prowess in mountaineering

ISLAMABAD:

Passion and determination often lead to remarkable success, no matter how hard the challenges press you.

Dr Shahida Jamal Afridi is a shining example of this. As Pakistan's first gynaecologist mountaineer, she has broken barriers in both medicine and adventure. Dr Afridi hails from the Afridi Sardar clan, where her father serves as a senior army officer. Her parents always aspired for her to become a doctor, and with their support, she turned their dreams into reality.

After graduating from Army Medical College in 2000, Dr Afridi earned her MCPS in 2006, followed by an MROG in 2009 and 2010. She served for nine years in Pakistan before moving to Dubai, where she headed a department at Dubai Medical City for a decade.

In an interview, Dr Shahida Afridi shared her desire to make a name in her profession, much like any other doctor. Outside of medicine, her passions include running, rock climbing, trekking, and mountaineering. Trained by Dr Col Rana Hasan Javed and French-Canadian mountaineer Louis, she embraced the world of climbing. Although she initially faced fear, she soon fell in love with scaling the world's highest peaks.

She acknowledged Pakistan's natural beauty, particularly its northern mountains, which attract climbers from around the globe. She feels privileged to have the opportunity to explore these ranges and finds solace in trekking in Islamabad's Margalla Hills. In 2020, she set her sights on conquering the Kausar Gang, successfully reaching two Base Camps and completing GGLA Pass in 2022, followed by two ABC peaks in 2023 and 2024.