Naila Kiani becomes first Pakistani woman to summit world’s third highest peak

Pakistani mountaineer, Naila Kiani successfully summited Mount Kanchenjunga (8,586m), the world’s third-highest peak, situated in Nepal, becoming the only Pakistani woman to scale 12 of the world’s 14 mountains above 8,000 metres.

Kiani reached the summit at 6:00 am local time (5:15 am PKT) on Friday, according to Mingma G, a renowned Nepali climber and owner of Imagine Nepal, which led the expedition. 

The team began their descent shortly after reaching the summit, returning safely to Camp Four en route to base camp.

A press release issued by Kiani described climb as remarkable achievement during a harsh high-altitude conditions, including intense snowfall and sub-zero temperatures. 

Kiani began the summit push at 6:30 pm the previous evening and climbed through the night, showcasing extraordinary endurance and resilience.

Read: Naila Kiani summits Mount Makalu to become first Pakistani female to scale 11 peaks above 8,000 metres

“Climbing Kanchenjunga has been an incredibly difficult expedition and a harsh reminder of how hard it is to climb mountains over 8,000m,” Kiani said in a statement.

“From Pakistan to Kanchenjunga, this summit is not just a personal milestone, it’s a message to every girl and woman in Pakistan and beyond: you are stronger than you think,” she said.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan’s Secretary, Karrar Haidri, congratulated Kiani, saying her feat has solidified her place in both national and global mountaineering history.

With this latest summit, Kiani moves closer to joining a rare group of fewer than 20 women worldwide who have climbed all 14 peaks above 8,000m. Her mountaineering record already includes Everest, K2, Broad Peak, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum I & II, Annapurna, Lhotse, Manaslu, Makalu, and Cho Oyu.

Earlier this month, Kiani became the first Pakistani woman to summit 11 8,000m peaks. She was the first Pakistani woman to summit Annapurna and Broad Peak, the first to climb Nanga Parbat, and part of the first Pakistani duo, alongside Sirbaz Khan, to summit Cho Oyu.

“This journey has just started. Pakistan, this is for you,” Kiani said during her descent.

With just two 8,000m peaks left to conquer, Naila Kiani stood at the brink of becoming a legend, not just in Pakistan, but in the history of global mountaineering.