Naila Kiani and Samina Baig become first Pakistani women to summit Nanga Parbat
On Sunday, Naila Kiani and Samina Baig were two of the 52 climbers that scaled Nanga Parbat, the ninth-tallest mountain in the world with a peak that stands at 8,126 metres. They officially became the first Pakistani women to ever summit Nanga Parbat, a mountain known to be a particularly treacherous one to climb.
Both women were part of different expedition teams. Naila Kiani’s ascent was announced by the Secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan (APC), Karrar Haidri in the following statement:
“Today on July 2, 2023, at 10:18am, Naila Kiani scaled the majestic Nanga Parbat, standing tall at an inspirational height of 8,125 metres. She became the first Pakistani woman to climb Nanga Parbat.”
Nanga Parbat is one of the 14 ‘eight-thousanders’, as recognised by the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA). This means their summits are in the ‘death-zone’, i.e. past 8000 metres, where oxygen levels are too low to sustain human life for an extended time-span.
Naila has now scaled seven out of these 14 peaks. ACP said that apart from Nanga Parbat, Naila has scaled Mount Everest, K-2, Lhotse, Annapurna, Gasherbrum I and Gasherbrum II. “She serves as a bright example of how people can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles,” Mr Haidri stated.
Samina Baig also became the first Pakistani woman to scale peaks on all seven continents.
The Killer Mountain
Nanga Parbat is notorious for being an extremely difficult climb, earning the nickname Killer Mountain for its high number of climber fatalities, and the way its unforgiving terrain pushes climbers to their limits.
In the same expedition, a Spanish mountaineer died at Nanga Parbat Base Camp number 5, ARY News reports. Police reported the man died due to a heart attack.
Last year, the Pakistan Army had to rescue two climbers who were stranded after summitting Nanga Parbat, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).