Mountaineer Naila Kiani reached a remarkable milestone on Sunday, becoming the first Pakistani woman to conquer 11 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks, as confirmed by the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP).
Kiani achieved this historic feat by summiting Nepal’s Makalu Peak, standing tall at 8,485 meters, making her the fastest Pakistani, regardless of gender, to accomplish this remarkable feat in under three years.
In an official statement, ACP Secretary Karrar Haidri highlighted Kiani’s achievement, noting her ascent of Makalu as yet another historic milestone in her mountaineering journey. He emphasized the challenges she overcame during her climb through the night, culminating in her successful summit at approximately 9:35 am Nepal time (8:50 am Pakistan time).
Expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support and well-wishes, Kiani thanked everyone who contributed to her journey, particularly Sherpa Gelgen Dai from Imagine Nepal, whose unwavering support played a pivotal role in her success.
Kiani’s mountaineering journey is punctuated with numerous remarkable achievements. Last year, she became the first Pakistani woman to conquer Nepal’s Annapurna peak, followed by a historic summit of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. Alongside Samina Baig, she made history by becoming the first Pakistani women to scale Nanga Parbat and later conquered Broad Peak, another significant milestone.
Months later, Kiani and Sirbaz Khan achieved another milestone by becoming the first Pakistani duo to summit Cho Oyu, the world’s sixth-highest peak in Tibet, China.
In a recent video shared on ACP’s Facebook account, Kiani reflected on her journey, emphasizing the importance of education in her success and calling for greater emphasis on girls’ education in Pakistan. She shared her diverse accomplishments as an aerospace engineer, amateur boxer, and mother to two toddlers, inspiring others to pursue their dreams regardless of their background.
.){kind=link}