KHAPLU, GILGIT-BALTISTAN: Prominent Pakistani women mountaineers Naila Kiani and Samina Baig on Sunday summited the country’s second-highest mountain, Nanga Parbat, making the former the first Pakistani woman climber to achieve the feat.
Nicknamed the “Killer Mountain,” Nanga Parbat stands at 8,125 meters (26,660 feet) and is recognized as the world’s ninth-highest peak and Pakistan’s second-highest. Several climbers have in the past died attempting to summit the towering mountain, among them Italian Daniele Nardi and Briton Tom Ballard who went missing and were later declared dead in 2019.
With her latest feat, Kiani became the first Pakistani woman to summit the peak and the first Pakistani female climber to summit seven out of the 14 eight-thousander mountains in the world. Baig and Kiani achieve the feat with over a dozen national and international climbers who summited Nanga Parbat.
“Today on July 2, 2023, at 10:18 a.m., Naila Kiani scaled the majestic Nanga Parbat, standing tall at an inspirational height of the eight-thousander,” Karrar Haidri, the secretary-general of the Alpine Club of Pakistan — a non-government organization that promotes mountaineering — said in a statement.
“Naila has now ascended seven of the enormous 8,000-meter peaks on the planet, establishing her as one of the most talented climbers of our time,” Haidri added.
Speaking to Arab News, Haideri said:
“Samina Baig and Naila Kiani are both strong climbers and they are making the name of our country proud.”
Prior to this feat, Kiani has summited the legendary Mount Everest, the difficult K2, the commanding Lhotse, the perilous Annapurna, the elusive G1, and the G2 in Pakistan.
With her latest feat, Baig has now summited three out of the 14 eight-thousanders in the world. According to Haidri, Wajid Ullah Nagri and ten other international climbers summited Nanga Parbat on Sunday with Baig and Kiani.
“They overcame hazardous terrain, severe weather, and a plethora of challenges thanks to their undying determination, talent, and teamwork,” he said. “Their success serves as both a source of motivation for aspirant climbers and proof of the unflappable spirit of human endeavor,” the statement added.
Last month, 23 climbers from Norway, Russia, the United States, Switzerland, France, Turkiye, Mexico, Nepal and Pakistan summited Nanga Parbat.
Pakistani women climbers Naila Kiani, Samina Baig summit ‘Killer Mountain’ Nanga Parbat
https://arab.news/mc9u5
Pakistani women climbers Naila Kiani, Samina Baig summit ‘Killer Mountain’ Nanga Parbat
- Naila Kiani becomes first Pakistani woman to summit seven out of 14 eight-thousander mountains
- Kiani and Samina Baig achieve summit Nanga Parbat with other a dozen local, international climbers
Veon Group invests $20 million in Pakistan’s Mobilink Bank to accelerate digital Islamic banking
- The investment builds on $15 million capital deployed by Veon in January 2025
- The capital will be used to scale the bank’s micro, small and medium enterprises
KARACHI: Global digital operator Veon Group has announced an investment of $20 million in Pakistan’s Mobilink Bank to support its growth and digital Islamic banking expansion in Pakistan, it said on Friday.
Mobilink Bank is a part of Veon Group, a global digital operator that provides services to over 150 million connectivity customers and over 140 million monthly active digital users. The Nasdaq-listed company operates across five countries that are home to more than 6 percent of the world’s population.
The investment builds on $15 million capital deployed by Veon in January 2025 and underscores its confidence in Mobilink Bank’s growth momentum and its integrated digital financial ecosystem with JazzCash, amid the rapid expansion of Pakistan’s digital banking and microfinance sector, according to Veon Group.
The capital will be used to scale Mobilink Bank’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) financing portfolio, advance its Islamic banking offerings, and strengthen its evolution into a technology-driven, digitally native bank, with a continued focus on expanding regulated financial access for underserved communities.
“This investment will accelerate the expansion of our shariah-compliant Islamic banking offerings, helping small businesses formalize cash flows, access regulated credit, and build long-term financial resilience,” said Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, president and chief executive officer of Mobilink Bank.
“As a future-ready digital bank, our focus remains on delivering practical, technology-enabled financial solutions that empower entrepreneurs — particularly women and underserved communities — across Pakistan.”
Mobilink Bank’s expanding deposit base and MSME-oriented lending portfolio are enabling small businesses to transition from informal cash usage to regulated banking, while targeted women-centric financial products and green financing initiatives support inclusive growth and resilience in the face of Pakistan’s climate and economic challenges, according to a statement issued by Veon Group.
Mobilink Bank, together with JazzCash, which serves over 57 million customers and is supported by a nationwide network of more than one million merchants and agents, anchors one of Pakistan’s largest digital financial ecosystems. During the year, JazzCash processed gross transaction value exceeding Rs15 trillion ($53 billion), underscoring the scale, resilience, and impact of fintech in advancing financial inclusion, social mobility, and responsible digital innovation across Pakistan.
The investment reflects Veon Group’s broader digital strategy of strengthening high-impact financial ecosystems through technology-led solutions and disciplined capital deployment, positioning Mobilink Bank as a key contributor to Pakistan’s evolving financial sector, according to the global digital operator.
“This continued stream of investment from VEON underscores our long-term commitment to Pakistan and confidence in the structural shift underway in the country’s digital financial services ecosystem,” Veon Group Executive Committee Member and Chairman Mobilink Bank, Aamir Ibrahim, was quoted as saying.
“It strengthens Mobilink Bank and JazzCash’s ability to execute on our strategic priorities, invest in resilient technology infrastructure, and contribute to the development of inclusive and sustainable digital banking.”
