Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri lauds services of celebrated woman mountaineer Samina Baig after K-2 success

Canberra: Pakistani High Commissioner to Australia Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri this week lauded the services of celebrated woman mountaineer Samina Baig after she conquered K-2 peak, known as the Savage Mountain.

“Our Pakistani women are our pride. Samina Baig becomes first Pakistani woman mountaineer to summit #K2 ,” the envoy tweeted.

Earlier this week, Pakistani female mountaineers created history by achieving what no other woman from the country has done before – reaching the top of the 2nd highest peak of the world – 8611m high K2.

Samina Baig summitted the mighty K2 along with her team members and became the first ever Pakistani woman to scale the K2. Less than three hours after Samina’s summit, Naila Kiani reached the top – becoming the second. No other Pakistani woman has achieved this feat before.

Several other climbers from various countries, including female climbers from Oman, Lebanon, Iran, and Taiwan, also summitted the peak the same day.

Pakistan’s 31-year-old climber, Samina Baig’s team confirmed that she – along with other Pakistani mountaineers – summitted.

“We are extremely proud to announce that Samina Baig, with her strong Pakistani team, successfully summitted the world’s most fascinating and dangerous mountain, known as Savage Mountain, the world’s second and Pakistan’s tallest mountain, K2, at 8611 metres,” said the statement by Samina’s team at ground. “Grateful and blessed that K2 allowed her to stand atop this incredible mountain,” the statement added.

Samina Baig comes from the remote village of Gilgit Valley, Shimshal. Earlier in 2013, she became the first Pakistani woman to scale the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest.

The other members to climb with Samina include Eid Muhammad, Bulbul Karim, Ahmed Baig, Rizwan Dad, Waqar Ali and Akber Hussain Sadpara.

Less than three hours after Samina’s feat, Pakistan’s other climber, Naila Kiani, reached the top of K2.