New Delhi: Political uprisings, a face-off between Imran Khan and army generals, and an economy on the brink of collapse have not eclipsed the success of two Pakistani mountaineers who scaled Mount Everest.
Sajid Sadpara became the first Pakistani to scale the Himalayan peak on a solo expedition, reportedly without any supplementary oxygen or sherpa assistance on Sunday. The same day, Dubai-based Pakistani banker, Naila Kiani, became the first Pakistani woman to climb five peaks of over eight thousand meters, including Mount Everest. She is the second Pakistani woman to scale the world’s highest peak.
Pakistanis—from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to diplomats and other mountaineers—have put aside larger national problems to hail Kiani and Sadpara.
The Secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Karrar Haidri, confirmed the news, stating that Kiani successfully reached the summit at 8:02 am on 14 May.
They were accompanied by Pakistani-born British climber Nadia Azad.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter to congratulate Naila on her accomplishment stating that she has “reinforced the notion” that Pakistani women are capable of “achieving anything.” The Pakistan Consulate General of Jeddah too congratulated Kiani on her “determination and perseverance.”
Nepal’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Tapas Adhikari, extended his congratulations to Naila Kiani, Nadia Azad, and Sajid Ali Sadpara for their successful 8,848m ascent of Everest. Adhikari expressed his admiration for their achievements and stated that this accomplishment would serve as an inspiration for future Pakistani women in the field of mountaineering, highlighting the trio as role models and a source of encouragement, reported Pakistan Today.
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Accomplished mountaineers
Kiani has accomplished several remarkable feats in high-altitude climbing. In July 2021, she became the first Pakistani woman to ascend the 8,035-meter Gasherbrum II, the 13th highest mountain globally. In July 2022, Kiani, along with Samina Baig, became one of only two Pakistani women to reach the summit of K2, the second-highest peak at 8,611 meters.
Last month, she became the first Pakistani woman to scale Annapurna, the world’s 10th-highest mountain.
Sajid Ali Sadpara, 24, has mountaineering in his blood. His father, Muhammad Ali Sadpara was a famous mountaineer. He passed away in a bottleneck atop K2 in 2021. Sajid tweeted that he has “fulfilled” his father’s dream by climbing Everest.
Sadpara climbed Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen or assistance from sherpas, making him the first Pakistani to achieve this feat. Sadpara previously conquered K2, Mount Manaslu and Annapurna under the same conditions.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)