GILGIT: Renowned Pakistani mountaineer Mohammad Ali Sadpara along with four Sherpas scaled the 8th highest peak of the world, Manaslu, in Nepal without bottle oxygen on Tuesday.

According Alpine Club of Pakistan Ali Sadpara became the first Pakistani climber to scale the eighth highest peak of over 8,000 meters of the world. Sadpara, 43, has climbed all five, 8,000-metre 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 the winter. He also climbed the 8,516-metre Lhotse peak and 8,485-metre Makalu peak in Nepal. Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, the managing director of Seven Summit Treks, said that Mohammad Ali Sadpara, Ngima Dorchi, Ngima Thenduk, Tenji Chhombi and Namgya Bhote reached to the summit after tireless effort since 21 September.

A total of 50 climbers are taking part in the summit. Mr Sadpara was sponsored by Pakistan Army.

“Thank God I am the first Pakistani to climb Manaslu without oxygen,” he said in a message to Dawn after the successful summit. He also thanked Pakistan Army for sponsoring him. Ali will also attempt to scale Dhaulagiri (8,167).

Mr Sadpara hosted Pakistani national flag at the top of Manaslu. He said that he was determined to climb all the 14 peaks of the world having more than 8,000-meter height.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2019