Three Pakistani climbers, Naila Kiani, Shehroze Kashif, and Sajid Ali Sadpara have made history in the mountaineering world by successfully summiting Annapurna, the 10th-highest mountain in the world.
In a significant achievement for Pakistani mountaineering, Sajid Ali Sadpara summitted Annapurna I, which stands at 8,000 meters, on Saturday, while Naila Kiani and Shehroze Kashif, two young climbers from Pakistan, achieved the target on Monday successfully raising the Pakistani flag, marking a momentous achievement for themselves and the country.
“Congratulations to Naila Kiani, Shehroze Kashif and the Seven Summit Trek team on the successful ascent of Mt. Annapurna 8,091m this morning, on 17 April 2023 between 6:30 to 7:30 Am,” said Karrar Haidri, Alpine Club of Pakistan official.
The six successful summiteers of the Seven Summit Treks (SST) team included Naila Kiani and Shehroze Kashif from Pakistan; Arjun Vajpai from India; and Lakpa Nurbu Sherpa, Tashi Sherpa, and Lakpa Sherpa from Nepal.
Standing tall at 8,091 meters above sea level, Mount Annapurna is notoriously known as a challenging climb, claiming the lives of over 60 climbers who attempted to summit the peak.
Naila Kiani becomes first Pakistani woman to summit Annapurna
Naila Kiani became the first Pakistani female climber to summit Mount Annapurna successfully.
Kiani, who is a banker based in Dubai and a mother of two daughters, holds the record of summiting four peaks that stand above 8,000 meters in height, showcasing her remarkable mountaineering prowess. Her next goal is to conquer Mount Everest.
“This has been one of the difficult ascents of our journey, however, it was a matter of honor and immense pleasure to have raised our prestigious flag [of Pakistan] on the top of Annapurna peak,” Naila and Shehroze said while sharing their feelings over the phone. They added that they aim to promote mountain climbing and create opportunities for young people.
However, Naila and Shehroze were stranded during the descent and a helicopter was dispatched from Kathmandu to the higher camps of Annapurna to safely transport them to base camp.
Shehroze Kashif — youngest to summit 11 peaks of over 8,000m
Shehroze has now become the youngest mountaineer in the world to summit 11 peaks above 8,000 meters.
Shehroze began his mountaineering journey at the age of 11, conquering Makra Peak at 3,885 meters. He now holds the title of the world’s youngest mountaineer to summit 11 peaks exceeding 8,000 meters in height. At 19 years old, he became one of Pakistan’s youngest climbers to successfully scale Mount Everest, standing at an impressive 8,849 meters, and also became the youngest climber in the world to summit K2 in the same year. His current goal is to become the youngest person to climb all 14 peaks.
Sajid Ali Sadpara aces Alpine style technique
Sajid Ali Sadpara became the first person from Pakistan to summit the Nepalese peak Annapurna in ‘Alpine style’, summitting the peak without oxygen or the help of high-altitude porters. The accomplished mountaineer reached the peak on April 15, adding to his already impressive list of climbing accomplishments.
Embarking on his summit push on Friday night from Camp 4, Sajid Ali Sadpara successfully reached the summit of Annapurna on April 15, according to Seven Summit Treks, the organizer of the expedition.
Chhang Dawa Sherpa, the expedition director, congratulated Sadpara on his remarkable achievement. “Wake up Pakistan!!! Sajid Ali Sadpara, a son of legend Ali Sadpara, reached the top of Mt Annapurna this afternoon, unsupported and without using supplementary O2.” Sherpa said.
Sadpara described the Annapurna Summit as “one of his hardest climbing experiences” so far. “The weather was not perfect, wind was blowing fast, there was too much snow, and the steep slopes looks hazardous with crevasses and falls. It was technically a risky climb … I was carrying my own tent and loads and keeping pace with rope fixing team using supplemental O2. But thanks to Allah Almighty, I climbed it and was first person without O2 to reach the top” he shared on Instagram.
The climber has commenced his descent and is anticipated to arrive at the lower camp for an overnight stay.
His goal is to ascend all 14 peaks that stand above 8,000 meters in an Alpine style, in order to accomplish his late father’s lifelong dream.