GILGIT, Pakistan: No mountain is too high or too difficult to scale for determined Pakistani women mountaineers, who continue to defy odds and break barriers in the world of high-altitude climbing. For them, it is not just about reaching the summit—it is about going the extra mile and climbing every mountain in their path.
Recently, as many as 13 women climbers tested their skills on peaks towering over 8,000 meters, known as eight-thousanders. Among them, four succeeded in conquering the peaks.
Taking Mountaineering to the Next Level
For the first time, two all-women expeditions attempted to scale the world’s second-highest peak to celebrate the 70th anniversary of K2’s first ascent on July 31, 1954.
The first team, sponsored by the Italian Alpine Club, comprised four Italian climbers—Anna Torretta, Federica Mingolla, Silvia Loreggian, and Cristina Piolini. Likewise, four Pakistani climbers—Samina Baig, Amina Bano, Nadeema Sahar, and Samana Rahim—were also part of the team.
The second team, an all-Pakistani group sponsored by the Pakistan Army, included Anum Uzair from Lahore, Amina Hanif and her sister Siddiqa Hanif from Ghanche in Gilgit-Baltistan, and Bibi Afzoon, Sultana Nasab, and Shama Baqir from Hunza in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Unfortunately, there is a belief that our climbers lack skills, which is why people often hire guides from abroad, especially from Nepal. My aim with the rescue mission and cleanliness drive was to prove our capabilities.
Although neither expedition succeeded in summiting K2, their attempts set the wheels in motion for future endeavours and highlighted the growing participation of women in high-altitude climbing.
No Peak is too Steep!
Naila Kiani continued her ascent to greatness, becoming the first Pakistani woman to summit 11 of the world’s 14 eight-thousanders. A banker by profession based in Dubai, Kiani is the mother of two girls, aged three and four.
In May 2024, she successfully scaled Makalu, the fifth-highest peak in the world with 8,485 meters height in Nepal. With only Shishapangma, Kangchenjunga, and Dhaulagiri remaining, Kiani is closer to completing the feat of summiting all the above 8,000-meter peaks.
Her contributions extended beyond mountaineering. In August 2024, she led a challenging rescue mission on K2’s Bottleneck to retrieve the body of climber Muhammad Hassan Shigri from 8,200 meters: a feat that raised the bar for future rescue missions at such high altitudes.
A month earlier, she led a clean-up drive, removing around 1.7 tons of waste from 16 mountain sites, including K2 and Broad Peak.
In recognition of her achievements, Naila has been awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz, the third-highest civilian award in Pakistan. In addition, on May 29, 2024, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training appointed her as the Girls’ Education National Goodwill Ambassador.
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Speaking to WE News English, Naila emphasises the importance of changing perceptions about Pakistani climbers. “Unfortunately, there is a belief that our climbers lack skills, which is why people often hire guides from abroad, especially from Nepal. My aim with the rescue mission and cleanliness drive was to prove our capabilities,” she says.
For her, moving from climbing to leadership and then to social causes in a short span was a great achievement. “Adventure sports teach life skills like team-building, decision-making, and risk management, which are crucial for personal and professional growth.”
According to Kiani, success is not limited to summits rather attempting a climb itself is a significant achievement, as it involves leaving behind family and enduring immense challenges.
Female climbers in Pakistan face unique challenges, including securing sponsorships, acquiring proper equipment, and accessing training opportunities.
She also underlines the need for overcoming stereotypes and criticism, stating that women often face comments that discredit their achievements, but I’ve proven such perceptions wrong. “The 13 mountaineers who climbed peaks this year will inspire more women to dream big and achieve their goals, not just in mountaineering but in every field.”
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Sky is the Limit!
Thirty-five-year-old Anum Uzair hails from Lahore. She was a member of Pakistan’s first all-women expedition on K2. She later moved to Broad Peak and successfully conquered the 8,051-meter-high top. With this feat, she became the second Pakistani female climber to summit Broad Peak, following Naila Kiani.
Similarly, in 2023, she summited the world’s 8th-highest peak, Manaslu, along with her husband, Ahmed Uzair, becoming the first Pakistani couple to achieve this feat.
Uzair, a forensic scientist at the Punjab Forensic Science Agency and mother of two, describes her experience in 2024 as quite good. Highlighting the challenges the team faced due to climate change, she says, “As a woman, there are definitely challenges; challenges in terms of support from family and the team, especially at the peak, which women usually face.”
The previous year, she remarks, would be remembered as a significant year for women in mountaineering, as two dedicated women’s teams were formed. “For me, 2024 was the year of Pakistani women in mountaineering.”
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Meanwhile, on July 29, 2024, Bibi Sultana Nasab from Shimshal Valley in Hunza became the third woman from Pakistan to conquer the world’s second-highest mountain after Naila Kiani and Samina Baig. She reached the summit of K2, standing at 8,611 meters, along with ace climber Sirbaz Khan. She was the only female climber from the all-Pakistani group sponsored by the Pakistan Army who successfully scaled the peak. The harsh weather had forced the rest of the team to decide not to push for the K2 summit.
Age is just a number
Dr. Shahida Jamil Afridi exemplifies the saying ‘age is just a number’. The 47-year-old gynaecologist who belongs to the border town of Landi Kotal at the Pak-Afghan border is the mother of an 18-year-old daughter. She stunned the world last July by summiting the 13th highest mountain in the world Gasherbrum-II (8,035m).
In an exclusive communication with WE News English, she describes her journey as an exhilarating and humbling experience.
“Standing on a summit is surreal, but it’s the process—overcoming fatigue, braving unpredictable weather, and navigating technical challenges—that shapes you and redefines your perspective. Every step was a reminder of the potential and resilience of Pakistani women.”
According to Dr. Afridi, female climbers in Pakistan face unique challenges, including securing sponsorships, acquiring proper equipment, and accessing training opportunities.
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“Societal expectations and traditional gender roles often create additional barriers. I was fortunate to have the full support of my family—especially my husband and daughter—which made these challenges seem solvable,” she says.
She emphasises the importance of shifting societal perceptions, stating that the biggest challenge and opportunity is changing how people view women climbers. With each successful climb, she adds, we prove that the capabilities of Pakistani women are limitless.
“Our achievements sent a powerful message that Pakistani women are not only willing to take on extreme challenges but are excelling at them. Perhaps the most significant legacy of this year is that it will ensure women climbers are no longer a rarity but a norm.”
The courageous and optimistic climber goes on to add that these accomplishments go beyond personal triumphs and serve as milestones for all aspiring women climbers.
By pushing boundaries, we blaze a trail for future generations to dream bigger and aim higher. I hope my journey, along with the expedition of my fellow climbers, inspires young girls to envision themselves on mountain summits and challenge societal norms in every field they choose, she remarks.
“The mountains show you that the most significant limitations are often self-imposed. I believe that as more women step into this sport, the narrative around women in adventure sports will continue to evolve, fostering a culture of empowerment and equality in Pakistan and beyond,” she hopes.
Down but not out!
Samina Baig, the first Pakistani woman to scale Mount Everest in 2013 and K2 in 2022, faced a difficult year. She was the co-leader of the Italian-Pakistani all-women expedition team of the Italian Alpine Club K2-70. Unfortunately, on July 5, 2024—nine days after the expedition commenced—she developed respiratory issues at the K2 Basecamp, which is why she was evacuated on a horse to the village of Askoli.
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According to her brother Mehboob Ali, the freezing weather left Baig with laboured breathing. Despite the base camp team promptly requested an urgent rescue from the Army Aviation, no operation could be initiated due to harsh weather conditions until July 5. During the delay, her condition worsened, requiring supplementary oxygen. The expedition team ultimately moved her to Askoli, 90 kilometres down from the basecamp.
So close, yet so far!
Fifteen-year-old Selena Khawaja, lovingly called the “Mountain Princess,” attempted to summit Nanga Parbat, also known as the Killer Mountain. Khawaja, the youngest person in the world to scale Spantik (7,027m) in the Karakorum range in 2019, initially faced permit challenges, which were resolved after intervention by the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister.
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According to her social media posts, her plan was to summit the peak along with her father, Yousaf Khawaja. Nevertheless, her father decided not to go beyond Camp 2 to ensure maximum oxygen availability for her. On July 11, she, along with porters, ascended to 7,525 meters.
Ms. Khwaja was just a stone’s throw away from the finish line, when she came to know that the oxygen cylinders were misplaced, leaving her with only one cylinder. This is why her father called her back, and the young climber returned without summiting the peak.
