ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Naila Kiani has made history by summitting Mount Kanchenjunga (8,586m), becoming the first Pakistani woman to make twelve, all 8,000–meter peaks in the world.
“This is much more than a climb, it is a historical achievement in Pakistan climbing,“ she said in a statement released through the Alpine Club of Pakistan press release.
“This is also a very special moment of national pride in Pakistan.“ With two peaks left, Naila is on the verge of becoming an elite group of only 17 women to have summited all 14 eight-thousanders in the world,“ the Alpine Club Press Release stated.
“Kiani is a symbol of determination, resilience, and flying spirit – all of which she embodies a spectacular opportunity, from the peaks of Everest and K2 to the cliffs of Annapurna and Lhotse.
According to her expedition organizer, Imagine Nepal, Kiani summited Kanchenjunga very early in the morning on Friday. “Naila Kiani summited Kanchenjunga (8,586m) at 6:30 a.m. local time, thus becoming Pakistan‘s leading female mountaineer with 12 eight-thousanders,“ said Dawa Futi Sherpa, Operations Director, Imagine Nepal.
Till now Naila has submitted 12 peaks in total including Everest (8,848m) K2 (8,611m) Broad Peak (8,047m) Nanga Parbat (8,125m) Gasherbrum I (8,068m) Gasherbrum II (8,035m) Annapurna (8,091m) Lhotse (8,516m) Manaslu (8,163m) Makalu (8,485m) Cho Oyu (8,188m) Kanchenjunga (8,586m).
Not only is this a personal achievement for women in sports, but it is also a symbol of empowerment, a flicker of hope and inspiration for Pakistan, and an accomplishment for the climbing community.
