Naila Kiani

Naila Kiani (Urdu: نائلہ کیانی); is a leading Pakistani female high-altitude mountaineer. She is the first Pakistani woman mountaineer to climb 10 of the 14 eight-thousanders (peaks above 8,000 metres).. Kiani is one of the few mountaineers worldwide who climbed multiple (7) 8000m peaks in only six months.

Kiani is also the fastest Pakistani (male or female) to climb all Pakistani 8,000-metre peaks and 10 peaks above 8,000-metre in two years.

Climbing career

In July 2021, Kiani became the first Pakistani female mountaineer to successfully ascend the 8,035-metre Gasherbrum II — the world's 13th highest mountain. She was the first Pakistani female to climb a peak higher than 8000 meters in Pakistan.

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.

In August 2022, a few days after climbing K2 Kiani became the first Pakistani female to reach the peak of the 8,080-metre high Gasherbrum I — the 11th highest mountain in the world.

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.

In May 2023, Kiani became the second Pakistani woman to climb the 8,848-metre-high Mount Everest.

Two days after climbing Everest in May 2023, Kiani became the first Pakistani woman to successfully climb the 8,516-metre Mount Lhotse — the world's 4th highest peak. She was the first Pakistani to climb Everest and Lhotse in 2 days.

In July 2023, Kiani became the first Pakistani woman to summit the 8,125-metre-tall Nanga Parbat — the world’s ninth-highest peak.

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.

Kiani became the first Pakistani woman to climb all five of Pakistan’s highest peaks above 8,000-metre.

In September 2023, Kiani successfully completed the ascent of 8,163-metre high Manaslu peak in Nepal — the eighth-highest mountain in the world.

In October 2023, Kiani became the first Pakistani woman to summit the 8,188-meter tall Cho Oyu — the world's sixth-highest peak.

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.

Awards and honours

In August 2023, the President of Pakistan Arif Alvi conferred Sitara-i-Imtiaz to Kiani.