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GILGIT: A renowned young mountaineer from Shimshal lost his life after falling from a mountain during ice climbing in the Khyber area of Gojal, Hunza, on Saturday.
According to officials, Shah Daulat, 31, a resident of Shimshal, was climbing an ice wall in Khyber village along with a foreign tourist. The two were practising ice climbing, as the mountain develops a steep ice wall during winter.
During the climb on Friday evening, Shah Daulat suddenly slipped on the ice and fell nearly 400 metres, sustaining fatal injuries. He died on the spot.
Local volunteers later recovered his body and shifted it to a government hospital in Sost, near the Pakistan–China border at Khunjerab Pass. On Saturday, his body was dispatched to Shimshal for burial.
Shah Daulat was a young and highly respected climber from Shimshal. He had successfully summited four eight-thousand-meter peaks, including the world’s second-highest peak K2 (8,611m), Nanga Parbat (8,126m), Gasherbrum-II (8,035m), and Gasherbrum-I (8,080m).
In 2025, he also achieved the rare feat of summiting Gasherbrum-I without using supplementary oxygen, earning recognition as one of the region’s strongest climbers.
Shah Daulat was a relative of renowned Pakistani female mountaineer Samina Baig and was part of her K2 expedition in 2022.
In a post on her official Facebook page, Samina Baig expressed deep grief, saying:
“Shah Daulat was a true gem in our family — a cherished younger brother (cousin) taken from us far too soon. The loss feels heavy, and words fall short. A young mountaineer, he achieved so much in such a short life, touching many hearts with his courage and gentle spirit.
May he rest in peace among the mountains he loved. He will forever remain in our hearts, remembered with love and quiet pride.”
Climbers, politicians, and civil society members expressed deep sorrow over Shah Daulat’s tragic death, paying tribute to his contributions to mountaineering.
Trekker and biker Ammara Sharif said, “I am deeply saddened and at a loss for words over the tragic passing of young mountaineer Shah Daulat. He left this world far too early, but his courage, passion for the mountains, and legacy will live on forever.”
Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2026
