LAHORE: Record holding mountaineers of Pakistan, Shehroze Kashif and Mrs Naila Kiani, are all set to scale the Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak in the world.

Shehroze, the world’s youngest mountaineer who summited K2 at the age of 17, is already in Nepal while Naila plans to be there in the first week of April for two expeditions.

In a media interaction with a select group of journalists in Lahore, both Shehroze and Naila sounded optimism to add more achievements to their credit. “I am fully prepared mentally and physically to summit the Mount Everest and if weather and other conditions remain favourable, I will complete the mission in four to five weeks,” Shehroze said while speaking online from Nepal.

“Pakistan has the highest number of small and high peaks as compared to Nepal, but our country lacks infrastructure and facilities required by the mountaineers. In Nepal they have developed a far better infrastructure for mountaineering,” said Shehroze, who first scaled Makra Peak (3,885m) at the age of 11.

Later, he also summited Musa ka Massalah (4,080m) at the age of 12, Chembra Peak (4,600m), Minglik Sar Shimshal (6,050m) at the age of 13, the K2 Gondogoro La K2 Base Camp (5,585m) at 14 and Khurdopin Pass (5,890m) at 15, before emerging as the youngest climber in 2021 by raising the national flag at the K2. He broke the record of Britain’s Adriana Brownlee with the difference of 12 days in age.

At the age of 17, he climbed Broad Peak (8,047m) earning the title of ‘The Broad Boy’ and reached the peak of Khusar Gang-Alpine Style (6,050m) at 18 years of age. At the age of 19, he conquered the Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak at 8849m, becoming one of the youngest in the country to do so.

“The authorities concerned, like the government of Pakistan and Alpine

Club of Pakistan, are responsible for making the climbing more conducive for the climbers. They have to come up with a comprehensive plan as they could attract more climbers and tourists and use it as a resource to bring foreign exchange,” Shehroze said.

Both Shehroze and Naila faced different problems related to financing in the early days of scaling but now they are settled and are in a far better position to earn more achievements with the support of the BARD Foundation, which is sponsoring them in their expedition.

“It was difficult to raise funds for my first journey. But my father encouraged me a lot. We sold out our plot and a car to raise funds. Later, I started getting some small sponsors but now the BARD has come out with an open heart to sponsor me,” Shehroze said

“For one expedition we need around USD 35,000 to USD 50,000 and it is not easy for everyone to raise such an amount without the sport of well-off people of the society,” he said.

Dubai-based banker Naila says: “On my first trip I raised funds from my own savings to complete the mission but now the BARD lends a supporting hand, helping me to think about the Mount Everest, too.

Naila became the first Pakistani woman to scale K2 in first attempt. Pakistani’s first female mountaineer Samina Baig had done it second attempt.

Also a boxer and a rock climber, Kiani scaled Gasherbrum-I and Gasherbrum-II. Now she is ready to scale Mount Everest in mid-April.

“I am a mother of two kids. Those around me would ask me how could I go on such an expedition leaving two kids behind. Of course it is not easy for anyone, especially for a mother but my passion prevailed over me. My husband is very supportive and other family members do take care for my children.”

Naila said though Mount Everest was easy to climb as compared to K2, harsh weather, avalanches were the main threats.

Naila said though Nepal had the highest peak of 8,000 metres plus, Pakistan had more 5,000m plus peaks, giving the country more potential to attract a good number of mountaineers, provided they raised better facilities.

“By providing maximum facilities, Pakistan could attract a large number of climbers and tourists having interest in the sport. Both Naila and Shehroze are optimistic about the future of the sport in Pakistan.

Head of BARD, former federal minister Abdul Razzaq Daud, said his foundation had recently started patronizing talented mountaineers. “It intends to sponsor other games as well.”

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2023