https://arab.news/wbsjk
- Kiani on Friday summitted Kanchenjunga to become first Pakistani woman to summit 12 鈥榚ight-thousanders鈥�
- She stands on the threshold of joining only 17 women who have conquered all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday praised Pakistani mountaineer Naila Kiani for scaling 8,586-meter Kanchenjunga, the world鈥檚 third highest peak, saying it was encouraging to see Pakistani women making records in such difficult sport.
With the ascent of Kanchenjunga on Friday, Kiani became the first Pakistani woman to scale 12 of the world鈥檚 14 peaks above the height of 8,000 meters, according to Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP), which arranges various expeditions.
The Pakistani mountaineer stands on the threshold of joining a global elite of only 17 women who have conquered all 14 eight-thousanders, Imagine Nepal, her expedition organizer, said after Friday鈥檚 summit.
鈥淧akistanis are making their country proud in every field of sports,鈥� Sharif said in a statement. 鈥淚t is encouraging to see Pakistani women setting records in a difficult sport like mountaineering.鈥�
Kiani has previously summited Mount Makalu (8,485m), Broad Peak (8,047 meters), Annapurna (8,091 meters), K2 (8,611 meters), Lhotse (8,516 meters), Gasherbrum 1 (8,068 meters), Gasherbrum II (8,035 meters), Nanga Parbat (8,125 meters), Mount Everest (8,849 meters), Manaslu (8,156 meters) and Cho Oyu (8,201 meters) mountains.
The ACP described Kiani鈥檚 feat as a 鈥渕onumental milestone鈥� in the history of Pakistani mountaineering and a moment of immense national pride.
鈥淔rom the towering heights of Everest and K2 to the perilous slopes of Annapurna and Lhotse, her journey tells a powerful story of grit, resilience and an unshakable will,鈥� it said on Friday.
鈥淭his is not just a personal achievement鈥� it is a symbol of empowerment for women in sports, a beacon of hope and inspiration for Pakistan, and a proud moment for every mountaineering enthusiast.鈥�