Two Pakistani women, Naila Kiani and Samina Baig, have achieved an incredible feat by becoming the first Pakistani women to reach the summit of Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninth-highest peak. On Sunday, they conquered the challenging terrain, harsh weather, and various obstacles during their expedition.
Naila Kiani, a Pakistani banker residing in Dubai, gained attention when her wedding photoshoot at the K2 Basecamp went viral in 2018. She has previously climbed Gasherbrum-II (8,035m) in 2021 and successfully summited Gasherbrum-I (8,068m), K2, and Annapurna. Earlier this year, she became the second Pakistani woman to conquer Mount Everest.
Samina Baig, originally from the remote village of Shimshal, made history in 2014 as the first Pakistani woman to summit Mount Everest. In 2022, she achieved another remarkable feat by reaching the top of K2, just three hours ahead of Naila Kiani. Baig holds the distinction of being the first Pakistani, male or female, to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents.
She also climbed the previously unclimbed Chashkin Sar peak (above 6,000 meters) in 2010, which was later named ‘Samina Peak,’ and another unexplored peak called ‘Koh-i-Brobar’ or ‘Mount Equality’ in 2011.
Naila Kiani and Samina Baig, along with a team of Pakistani mountaineers, including Rizwan Dad, Eid Muhammad, Ahmed Baig, Waqar Ali, Saeed Karim, Liaqat, Wajid Nagri, and Shah Daulat, successfully reached the summit of Nanga Parbat. Additionally, ten members of the expedition team Imagine Nepal, led by Summit Karakoram Managing Director Sakhawat Hussain, and international climbers Chris Warner from the United States and three Nepalese Sherpas also conquered the mountain.
It is noteworthy that a total of 28 mountaineers from different parts of the world accomplished the Nanga Parbat summit on the same day, marking the largest single-day ascent of the mountain.
