GILGIT: Renowned Pakistani mountaineer Mohammad Ali Sadpara scaled the 8,516-metre Lhotse peak in Nepal, the fourth highest mountain in the world, an organiser of the expedition, Seven Summit Treks, on Friday confirmed to Dawn that Sadpara climbed the peak in Nepal.

He said it was Sadpara’s solo summit, however, Nepalese Sherpas helped him fixing the ropes, adding the mountaineer was descending to the base camp from camp 4 of the peak.

Sadpara had arrived Nepal in first week of April to summit Makalu (8,485m) peak, the fifth highest in the world. He plans to climb the peak, next week.

Summit of Lhotse was not part of his plan, however, he did the adventure as part of acclimatisation.

A source said as soon as Sadpara descended from Lhotse, he will announce his Makalu summit plan.

The expedition of Sadpara has been sponsored by Pakistan Army.

Meanwhile, according to a statement, the Alpine Club of Pakistan congratulated Ali Sadpara for his successful summit of Lhotse.

Sadpara, 43, has climbed all the over five 8,000 metres high peaks in Pakistan, including K2 (8,611m), Gasherbrum I (8,080m), Gasherbrum II (8,034m), Nanga Parbat (8,126m) and Broad Peak (8,051m).

He is the first Pakistani to have climbed Nanga Parbat in winter.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2019