KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: Two more Pakistani climbers, Sajid Ali Sadpara and Nadia Azad, successfully summited on Sunday the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest, setting new records in the process.
Sadpara, son of Pakistan’s late iconic high-altitude mountaineer Muhammad Ali Sadpara, became the first Pakistani to scale Everest without supplemental oxygen and a personal sherpa. He has already summited K2 (8,611 meters) twice as well as Mt Manaslu (8,163 meters) and Mt Annapurna (8,091 meters) in Nepal. Sadpara also climbed Gasherbrum-I (8,080 meters) and Gasherbrum-II (8,035 meters) without supplemental oxygen.
Azad became the second Pakistani woman climber to successfully climb two out of 14 peaks above the height of 8,000 meters. She summited 8,091m Mt Annapurna in April this year and after her successful ascent of Everest, Azad has also become the second Pakistani woman climber to scale the Seven Summits — the highest mountains of each of the seven traditional continents. Previously, Pakistan’s Samina Baig scaled two ‘eight-thousanders,’ K2 and Everest, as well as the Seven Summits.
Prior to them, Naila Kiani, a Dubai-based Pakistani woman climber, on Sunday morning became the first Pakistani woman to climb five out of 14 ‘eight-thousanders’ as she summited Everest. Kiani previously scaled K2, Gasherbrum-I and Gasherbrum-II, and Mount Annapurna in Nepal.
“What an incredible feat. 3 Pakistanis on Everest today on 14 May 2023,” Karrar Haidri, general-secretary of the Alpine Club that manages expeditions on Pakistani peaks, said in a statement.
“Sajid summited without o2 & personal sherpa. What an incredible achievement for Pakistan.”
“Huge Congratulations @sajid_sadpara for your successful ascent of Mt. Everest 8848.86m, proud of you brother, well done,” Seven Summit Treks, a top tour company in Nepal, said in a Twitter post.
“And wish you all the best for Lhotse.”
Shehroze Kashif, the youngest Pakistani climber to summit 11 out of 14 ‘eight-thousanders,’ congratulated Sadpara for achieving the “remarkable feat.”
“Congratulations to my brother @Sajid_sadpara on accomplishing a remarkable feat,” Kashif said on Twitter.
“He is the first Pakistani to summit #Everest without the use of supplemental oxygen. I am sure your father must be proud and smiling from heaven.”
Kiani summited the 8,848-meter Mount Everest, considered dangerous because of the risk of frequent avalanches and the Khumbu Icefall, at around 8am on Sunday morning. She also became the first international climber to pull off the feat in 2023.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed her achievement in a Twitter message.
“Adding yet another feather to her cap, Naila Kiani has made Pakistan proud by summiting Mount Everest,” PM Sharif said.
“Through her passion for mountaineering & amazing achievements to her credit, she has reinforced the notion that our women are capable of achieving anything. Heartiest congratulations to her & best wishes for her future plans.”
Before leaving for the Everest expedition last month, Azad said she was using her savings to fulfil her dream and would visit Pakistan this summer if she got a sponsorship.
“This season, I am confirmed to be climbing Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Dhaulagiri, and Kanchenjunga,” Nadia said, before leaving for Everest basecamp in April.
“I am paying with life savings after working for years to make this dream possible. InshaAllah if sponsorship comes in, I will come to Pakistan this summer too.”
