ISLAMABAD: Mountaineer Naila Kiani, who has become an inspiration for women in mountaineering, encouraged them to take up the sport, saying that it took sheer will and determination to make her dreams come true.

Naila Kiani, who climbed eight out of the 14 peaks above 8,000 metres in two years, expressed disappointment on the lack of awareness about mountaineering.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club, Ms Kiani said there was a need to promote mountaineering to attract countless talented athletes of this country for which support of the private sector was also required.

The mountaineer, who is also the first Pakistani woman to ascend Broad Peak, has climbed all five above 8,000 metre peaks in Pakistan, and a total of eight above 8,000 metre peaks worldwide.

Ms Kiani said she planned to conquer all 14 highest peaks in the world in the near future.

The climber said if a woman from Rawalpindi, without any background in mountaineering, could summit the highest peaks then other women could also accomplish this feat.

“We need to put focus on mountaineering if we want to succeed and improve in this sport. Just like in Nepal, Pakistan needs to improve the mountaineering sport to benefit from it,” she said.

She also lauded the Alpine Club of Pakistan for its support and expressed admiration for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for approving the conferment of the national civil award Sitara-i-Imtiaz on her in recognition of her achievements.

Naila Kiani has summitted the world’s highest peaks including Mount Everest, 8,849 metres; K2, 8,611 metres; Lhotse in Nepal 8,516 metres; Annapurna also in Nepal, 8,091 metres; Gasherbrum I, 8,080 metres; and Gasherbrum II, 8,035 metres; and Nanga Parbat, 8,126 metres.

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd, 2023