ISLAMABAD: The Swiss embassy hosted an award ceremony on Monday to honour the achievements of women rock climbers, coinciding with International Women’s Day.

Welcoming members of the Adventure Club of Pakistan, Swiss Ambassador Georg Steiner expressed admiration for the determination and skill demonstrated by young women in the challenging sport of rock climbing.

“We are delighted to recognise these remarkable climbers. On this special occasion, we hope to encourage them to keep pushing forward,” he said, adding that he was impressed by the passion for mountaineering in Pakistan. The climbing competitions took place in February, but the award ceremony was delayed to align with International Women’s Day, celebrated globally on March 8.

The event was held at the Swiss envoy’s residence, where several speakers highlighted the importance of women’s participation in sports.

Dr Shahreen Zahid, vice president of the Adventure Club, noted the significance of the event, recalling that Pakistan’s first-ever women’s climbing competition was organised in 2007 in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation.

The competition has since grown, marking its 19th season in 2025.

“We are grateful to all participating teams, institutions, clubs and individuals who contributed to its success,” she said.

President of the Adventure Club Tahir Imran Khan extended gratitude to the Swiss embassy for recognising the sport and supporting its promotion in Pakistan.

Among the distinguished climbers honoured was Dr Aliza Sana, a dentist by profession, who began climbing in 2008 and became the first woman to win a gold medal in the national climbing championship. “Climbing means empowerment and freedom,” she remarked.

Iqra Jilani, an international athlete who has represented Pakistan in the Asian Games in China and the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, impressed the audience with her remarkable ability to speed climb a 60-foot wall in just 22 seconds.

“My aim was to represent Pakistan. I did not initially plan to become a climber, but the thrill of the sport kept me going. I aim to compete further and bring more recognition to Pakistan,” she said, calling for greater state support to promote climbing and mountaineering.

The event underscored the growing interest in adventure sports among Pakistani women and the need for increased recognition and support for their achievements.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2025