Naila: First Pakistani Woman to Summit All 14 Eight-Thousanders

News Desk

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Naila Kiani has achieved a significant milestone, successfully summiting Makalu, the world’s fifth highest peak at 8,485 meters, on Sunday.

According to reports, Naila reached the peak around 8:50 am Pakistan time, marking her as the first Pakistani woman to accomplish this challenging feat. In a statement, Naila expressed gratitude to the nation for their prayers and well-wishes.

She also acknowledged the support of Sherpa Gelgen Dai from Imagine Nepal, whose assistance was crucial in her journey to the summit. This latest triumph underscores Naila’s remarkable perseverance and resolve.

Naila is a remarkable Pakistani woman, known for her achievements as a high-altitude mountaineer. She holds the distinction of being the first Pakistani woman to climb eleven of the world’s highest peaks, all of which are above 8,000 meters.

Notably, she achieved this feat in less than six months, making her one of only ten mountaineers worldwide and the sole Pakistani to have climbed multiple peaks (seven) over 8,000 meters in such a short timeframe. Additionally, Kiani holds the record as the fastest years.

Beyond her mountaineering prowess, Kiani has excelled in various fields. She is an aerospace engineer, having studied at the University of London, and has held a prominent position as an Associate Vice President at HSBC bank.

She is also a competitive boxer and a dedicated mother of two toddlers. Despite her busy life, she continues to push boundaries by scaling some of the world’s most challenging peaks.

Kiani is a role model and a goodwill ambassador for several organizations supporting women’s education and youth empowerment through sports.

Her contributions to mountaineering and her commitment to social causes have been recognized by the government of Pakistan, which awarded her the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, the highest civilian honor for a female athlete in the country.