Samina, 21, besides a flagpost on Mount Everest, Nepal. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Through their feats, 21-year-old Samina Baig and her 29-year-old brother Mirza Ali ensured that their country’s flag fluttered on the world’s highest summit.
An ecstatic Samina informed her family about her successful ascent via satellite phone.
Mirza Ali and Samina can count themselves lucky as they will be remembered as the only Pakistanis to scale Everest on the 60th anniversary of the first conquest by Edmund Hillary on May 19, 1953.
Only two other Pakistani mountaineers, Nazir Sabir and Hassan Sadpara, have ever climbed the highest peak.
“According to initial reports, the two mountaineers and 29 other foreigners reached the summit at 7.30am (local time),” said Pervaizuddin, a resident of Shimshal Valley.
Two twin sisters from India, Tashi and Nugshi, also accompanied Samina and Mirza.
Together, the siblings placed the flags of India and Pakistan side by side on the highest peak on earth – making a statement of peace.
But Samina and Mirza’s effort stood out because the two siblings managed to scale the peak on the 48th day of their expedition, without the use of supplementary oxygen.
Mirza, who has been regularly updating about their expedition on his blog mirzaadventure.blogspot.com, wrote: “We request all our readers and visitors [to] please pray that Samina becomes the first Pakistani woman to reach the summit of Everest. And I hope to be the first young Pakistani without bottled oxygen to unfurl Pakistan’s flag on top of the world together with our Indian friends! Wish us luck! Thank you for sharing and for your support!”
Hailing from Shimshal village in Gojal tehsil of Hunza-Nagar district, Samina has come a long way.
“She is proof that the country has the talent and motivation; unfortunately there is no government support for mountain climbers,” said Colonel Sher Khan, one of the country’s leading mountaineers. “It is a sport without spectators.” Khan counts the people of Shimshal as among the world’s the best climbers.
Samina’s expedition began on April 1. She and her team ascended the mountain via the south face from the Nepalese side.
Mirza and Samina have been mountaineering for leisure for the last 10 years. They have served as mountain guides and expedition leaders for peaks in the Karakoram, the Himalayas and the Hindukush. But Samina has started climbing professionally for the past four years.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2013.
COMMENTS (23)
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on a single day in 2012 two thirty four (234) climbers reached the peak. Youngest person to do it is a 13 years old boy oldest is a 81 year old guy. All you have to have is a lot of money. Check this article on BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22680192
"All of these people have paid from their own pockets to host Pakistani Flag on the highest peaks of the world."
Mirza & Samina did not pay from their own pocket. They had sponsors.
Hajat Chand Well they were not forced to take Pakistani flags Its a legit statement about the right but that is a different matter than the feat these bro and sis achieved. You are trying to give it a political angle. but my friend grapes are sour as 2 wrong do not make a right. What you are yapping about is equally wrong! What have you done for GB? Absolutely nothing. You must be living in Khi or Lahore or Isb and just talking rubbish. I know folks from GB and they serve in Pak army and are officers. Yes there are political dilemmas but do not bring them into this sporting activity. Your ludicrous statement "The Area only named with pakistan but strategically it must be the part of China, India, Tajikistan, Afganistan or a Separate States." made me laugh. Go and read some geography and kashmir dispute!
Well done Samina and Ali you have made Pakistan proud.
Duo are from Kashmir the " Atoot ang" of India and not Pakistan as per most Indians commenting in Indian news papers.
and congratulation both of u....bro and sis
I can do any thing for my country pakistan ..if it gives me something or not......proud to be pakistani...this is for mr HAJAT CHAND and Abasho
Brilliant!!! So proud. Congratulations!
Wow! Congratulations!
It's always been so hard to find girl pals who like to go camping ... now HERE are some SERIOUS camping girls!
and supercongratulations on the historic election!
Congratulations!
are they Pakistanis? do they have representation in NA and Senate?
Well done, lady and gentleman. It is a pity that in the cacophony of the post election wranglings, such an important milestone is not getting the prominence it deserves.
You feel us proud Samina & Mirza Ali. Sitaroon say ahgay jahaan or be hay. Wel done & Thumbs up.
For your information, the two other guys Nazir Sabir and Hassan Sadpara, who have previously scaled mount Everest are also from Gilgit Baltistan. We have records of martyrs on the borders of Pakistan and many such outstanding achievements making Pakistan proud.
All of these people have paid from their own pockets to host Pakistani Flag on the highest peaks of the world. This shows how patriotic we are when it comes to Pakistan.
What else does Pakistan needs from us to be considered as equal citizens?
Honestly, I though that some Pakistani already did this feat a long time ago!
when it comes to giving Rights to Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan Denies. but when it comes to take credit of what Gilgit Baltistan Has done Pakistan Never feels shame to take that credit as granted. Those all Above mentioned Everest Summits are from GILGIT-BALTISTAN. The Area only named with pakistan but strategically it must be the part of China, India, Tajikistan, Afganistan or a Separate States. These People Summiting the Peaks of World cry for their basic rights from pakistan but every time when they demand their rights, Pakistan Denied. They Don;t have Even right to vote for pakistan, then how come they became Pakistanis?? Please Feel Some Shame Dear Pakistan and Stop taking credit of the worldwide appreciable Milestones Done By Gilgit-Baltistanis. if you want to take credit of their Irony Works die--hard and Try to make them say we are pakistanis. They took the Pakistani Flag to the everst to show Pakistan '' we have still hope in you, please do something to give us the basic rights before it gets worst''. apart the pakistani federal ministry had denied to issue funds to these siblings to summit the everst, as they requested to the ministry, but now th same ministry is making noise broadcasting their success. How Funny it is??
How pity that is that they are living without rights......some day they will have to join the other Pakistanis to snatch their rights from the state.
Congratulations!!! Proud moment for all of us.
It is very sad that the ET did not give proper coverage and importance to such a great achievement by a Pakistani woman. This should have been the breaking news on your main page but you guys are fond of terrorism, extremism, killings, corruptions and so on and you give full coverage to such news.
@Rashid nadeem:
Beautiful comment.
Way to go girl ! You have made whole Ismaili - Aga Khan community & Pakistan proud of You . Just goes to show that the women in our has the potential to do alot for this country and that potential should be used by us rather than suppress them. Lets allow our daughter and sister to explore their hidden talents ; as that it the key to a successful Pakistan
all weather friend is improving deal with India and these guys are playing like kids by climbing mountains. irony!!
and you never given them the right to vote even tho they are hoisting your flag on the peaks of the world