Two Pakistani mountaineers Samina Baig and Naila Kiani have become the first women to summit the world’s second highest peak, K2 on Friday morning.
Samina Baig achieved the feat a few hours earlier than Naila Kiani. Baig reached the summit at 7.40 am on Friday along with her team and became the first Pakistani woman to reach the summit. Within less than three hours, Naila Kiani also reached the summit. No other Pakistani woman has achieved the feat before.
Several other climbers from other countries including Oman, Lebanon, Iran, and Taiwan, also summited the peak on K2. The summit started late last night when the team was done with rope fixing.
“We are extremely proud to announce that Samina Baig, with her strong Pakistani team, successfully summited the world’s most fascinating and dangerous mountain, known as Savage Mountain, the world’s second and Pakistan’s tallest mountain, K2, at 8611 meters this morning at 7:42 am,” said the statement by Samina’s team at the ground.
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“Grateful and blessed that K2 allowed her to stand atop this incredible mountain,” the statement added. Team members of Samina Baig included Eid Muhammad, Bulbul Karim, Ahmed Baig, Rizwan Dad, Waqar Ali, and Akber Hussain Sadpara.
Naila Kiani also reached the summit after three hours. “Yes, Alhamdulillah,” Naila texted this correspondent via the satellite communication device, confirming her summit.
Felicitations started pouring in for the Pakistani mountaineers on social media. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated the mountaineers.
Shehbaz Sharif said, “Congratulations to Samina Baig, the first Pakistani woman mountaineer to climb the world’s second highest peak ‘K2’ and her family for their achievement. Samina Baig has emerged as a symbol of determination, courage, and bravery of Pakistani women.”
He added, “They have proved that Pakistani women are not behind men in the endurance sport of mountaineering. It is hoped that Samina Baig will continue to wave the flag of Pakistan all over the world with the same spirit.”