Naila Kiani, a mountaineer and Dubai resident, achieved a remarkable feat by scaling Makalu, the world’s fifth highest peak at 8,485 meters. This accomplishment also makes her the first Pakistani woman to conquer 11 of the world’s 14 highest mountains, all of which are over 8,000 meters in height. Kiani, who has been living in Dubai for nine years, has spent the last three years pursuing her passion for mountaineering.
Despite being a mother of two young children, Kiani found the ideal environment and resources in Dubai to pursue her dream of climbing the world’s highest peaks. Her latest achievement of scaling Makalu was not an easy task, as the final summit push took place on a Saturday night before reaching the top on Sunday morning. The descent was faced with a snowstorm and the team got lost on their way back due to adverse weather conditions, eventually locating ‘camp 3’ at around 7,500 meters where they took refuge.
Kiani holds the record of being the fastest-ever Pakistani to climb 11 of the 14 highest 8,000-meter peaks, accomplishing this feat in just under 3 years. Her exceptional achievements have been recognized with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, the highest civilian honour awarded to any female athlete in Pakistan. In addition to her mountaineering skills, Kiani is also a competitive boxer.
In 2023, Kiani gained global attention by scaling 7 out of the 14 8,000-meter peaks in six months, a feat achieved by only 10 mountaineers worldwide in the same year. Her dedication and determination in pursuing her passion for mountaineering have brought her much recognition and accolades in the sports world. Stay updated with the latest news by following KT on WhatsApp Channels for more inspiring stories like Naila Kiani’s incredible achievements.
