Naila Kiani (Urdu: نائلہ کیانی); is a Pakistani female high-altitude mountaineer.[1][2][3][4] She is the first Pakistani female mountaineer to climb eight peaks above 8,000 metres, the 'eight-thousanders'.[5]
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Native name | نائلہ کیانی |
| Born | Rawalpindi, Pakistan |
| Education | Queen Mary University of London |
| Occupation | Mountaineer |
| Climbing career | |
| Type of climber | |
| Updated on 21 April 2024. | |
Kiani is also the first Pakistani woman to climb all five of the highest peaks above 8,000-metres in Pakistan. Kiani is also the fastest Pakistani—male or female—to climb all Pakistani 8,000-metre peaks and eight peaks above 8,000-metres in two years.[6]
Kiani is the recipient of Sitara-i-Imtiaz, the highest civilian honour in Pakistan.[7]
Mountaineering career edit
In July 2021, Kiani became the first Pakistani female mountaineer to ascend the 8,035-metre Gasherbrum II — the world's 13th highest mountain.[8]
In July 2022, Kiani became one of only two Pakistani women alongside Samina Baig to climb the 8,611-metre-high K2 — the 2nd highest mountain in the world.[9]
In August 2022, Kiani reached the peak of the 8,080-metre high Gasherbrum I — the 11th highest mountain in the world.[10]
In April 2023, Kiani became the first Pakistani woman to scale the 8,091-metre Annapurna — the world's 10th highest mountain located in Nepal.[11] After scaling the peak with the Seven Summit Treks team, Kiani and Shehroze Kashif were stranded at Camp 4 of Annapurna during the descent. Both Pakistani climbers were rescued and safely airlifted to the base camp after they complained of mountain sickness.[12][13]
In May 2023, Kiani became the second Pakistani woman to climb the 8,848-metre-high Mount Everest.[14] Later in May 2023, Kiani became the first Pakistani woman to successfully climb the 8,516-metre Mount Lhotse — the world's 4th highest peak.[15]
In July 2023, Kiani became the first Pakistani woman to summit the 8,125-metre Nanga Parbat — the world’s ninth-highest peak.[16][17] Later in July 2023, Kiani became the first Pakistani woman to summit the 8,051-metre tall Broad Peak — the world’s 12th highest peak.[18][19]
Kiani became the first Pakistani woman to climb all five of Pakistan’s eight-thousanders.[5] Kiani became the first Pakistani female to climb the eight highest eight-thousanders.[5]
In September 2023, Kiani completed the ascent of 8,163-metre Manaslu peak in Nepal — the eighth-highest mountain in the world.[20][21]
In October 2023, Kiani became the first Pakistani woman to summit the 8,188-metre Cho Oyu — the world's sixth-highest peak.[22][23] Later in October 2023, Kiani and Sirbaz Khan called off their attempted ascent of Shishapangma peak in Tibet, after surviving an avalanche near its summit.[24][25]
In May 2024, Kiani climbed the 8,485 metres tall Makalu – the world’s fifth-tallest mountain – in Nepal.[26]
Awards and honours edit
In August 2023, the President of Pakistan Arif Alvi conferred Sitara-i-Imtiaz to Kiani.[27][28]
References edit
- ^ Qureshi, Zubair (12 August 2022). "Dubai-based Naila Kiani scales world's 11th highest mountain". Gulf News.
- ^ Ryan, Patrick (25 May 2023). "Dubai resident who climbed Everest reveals how she had to conquer online trolls". The National.
- ^ Inam, Tamreez (8 June 2023). "A wedding photoshoot in K2 base camp: How Naila Kiani left a regular job to become an elite mountaineer". Khaleej Times.
- ^ Baig, Zulfiqar (23 December 2023). "Naila Kiani all set to break more records".
- ^ a b c "Naila becomes 1st Pakistani woman to summit country's 8000m peaks". The Express Tribune. 20 July 2023.
- ^ Lakhani, Faizan (9 August 2023). "Inspirational journey of mountaineer Naila Kiani". Geo Super.
- ^ "Mountaineer Naila gets Sitara-e-Imtiaz". The News. 25 March 2023.
- ^ "'Allah chose me': Dubai-based banker is first Pakistani woman mountaineer to summit Gasherbrum-II". Arab News. 4 August 2021.
- ^ Jamal, Sana (22 July 2022). "Samina Baig, Dubai-based Naila Kiani first Pakistani women to climb K2". Gulf News.
- ^ "Naila Kiani becomes first Pakistani woman to summit three peaks above 8,000m". The Express Tribune. 12 August 2022.
- ^ Nagri, Jamil (17 April 2023). "Naila Kiani becomes first Pakistani woman to scale Nepal's Annapurna peak". DAWN.
- ^ Nagri, Jamil (19 April 2023). "Pakistani climbers among five rescued from Annapurna". DAWN.
- ^ "Pakistani climbers Naila Kiani, Shehroze Kashif rescued". The News International. 18 April 2023.
- ^ Nagri, Jamil (14 May 2023). "Naila Kiani becomes second Pakistani woman to scale world's highest peak Everest". DAWN.
- ^ "After Everest, Naila Kiani scales fourth highest peak Mount Lhotse". The News International. 16 May 2023.
- ^ Nagri, Jamil (2 July 2023). "Naila Kiani, Samina Baig become first Pakistani women to scale world's 9th highest peak Nanga Parbat". DAWN.
According to Alpine Club of Pakistan Secretary General Karar Haidri, Naila scaled the mountain at 10:18am today followed by Baig who completed her summit at 11:08am.
- ^ Lakhani, Faizan (2 July 2023). "Naila Kiani becomes first Pakistani woman to summit Nanga Parbat". Geo News.
- ^ Saleem, Muhammad (21 July 2023). "Pakistani mountaineer Naila Kiani summits Broad Peak". Business Recorder.
- ^ "Naila Kiani becomes first Pakistani woman to scale Broad Peak". Geo News. 20 July 2023.
- ^ Nagri, Jamil (22 September 2023). "Naila, Sirbaz summit Nepal's Manaslu". DAWN.
- ^ "Naila Kiani conquers Mount Manaslu, breaks new ground". The Express Tribune. 21 September 2023.
- ^ Iqbal, Mussab (2 October 2023). "Naila Kiani becomes first Pakistani woman to summit sixth highest peak Cho Oyu". Samaa.
- ^ Nagri, Jamil (3 October 2023). "Naila Kiani, Sirbaz Khan become first Pakistani duo to summit world's 6th highest peak Cho Oyu". DAWN.
- ^ Nagri, Jamil (8 October 2023). "Naila, Sirbaz survive Tibet avalanche". DAWN.
- ^ "Two bodies recovered from Shishapangma, Tenjen, Rzucidlo still missing". The Himalayan Times. 8 October 2023.
- ^ Nagri, Jamil (5 May 2024). "Naila Kiani becomes first Pakistani woman to summit 11 8,000m peaks". DAWN.
- ^ "PM approves conferment of Sitara-i-Imtiaz on mountaineer Naila Kiani". APP. 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Several journalists among those granted civil awards in 2023". Aaj English TV. 14 August 2023.