03/07/2023
Naila Kiani and Samina Baig, two mountaineers from Pakistan, accomplished a remarkable feat by becoming the first Pakistani women to reach the summit of Nanga Parbat, the world's ninth-highest peak. They achieved this milestone on Sunday, overcoming treacherous terrain, harsh weather conditions, and numerous challenges during their expedition.
Naila Kiani, a Dubai-based Pakistani banker, amateur boxer, and mother of two daughters, gained recognition when her wedding shoot at the K2 Basecamp went viral on social media in 2018. She has previously scaled Gasherbrum-II (8,035m) in 2021 and reached the summits of Gasherbrum-I (8,068m), K2, and Annapurna. Earlier this year, she became the second Pakistani woman to conquer Mount Everest.
Samina Baig, hailing from the remote village of Shimshal, made history in 2014 as the first Pakistani woman to successfully climb Mount Everest. In 2022, she achieved another milestone by reaching the summit of K2, just three hours ahead of Naila Kiani. Additionally, Baig holds the distinction of being the first Pakistani, male or female, to conquer the seven summits on all seven continents. She ascended the virgin peak Chashkin Sar (above 6,000 meters) in 2010, which was subsequently named 'Samina Peak,' and conquered another unclimbed peak in 2011 called 'Koh-i-Brobar' or 'Mount Equality.'
Accompanied by a team of Pakistani mountaineers, including Rizwan Dad, Eid Muhammad, Ahmed Baig, Waqar Ali, Saeed Karim, Liaqat, Wajid Nagri, and Shah Daulat, Naila Kiani and Samina Baig successfully summited Nanga Parbat. Furthermore, the expedition team Imagine Nepal reported that ten of its members also reached the peak. In addition, Chris Warner from the United States and three Nepalese Sherpas, guided by Summit Karakoram Managing Director Sakhawat Hussain, successfully scaled the mountain. Notably, a total of 28 mountaineers from various parts of the world accomplished the Nanga Parbat summit on the same day, marking the largest single-day ascent of the mountain.
