Ambassador Tapas Adhikari hosts reception for Naila Kiani, Sajid Ali Sadpara, others – 70 years of Mount Everest ascent celebrated
Celina Ali
Islamabad: Ambassador of Nepal to Pakistan Tapas Adhikari on Monday hosted a reception for Naila Kiani, Sajid Ali Sadpara and other climbers to mark the 70 years of the first ascent of Mount Everest that brought Nepal to the world’s attention.
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa first climbed Mount Everest 70 years ago on May 29, 1953 and paved the way for thousands of foreign climbers to try to follow in their footsteps.
Addressing the event, Ambassador Tapas Adhikari said the first ascent of Everest brought Nepal to the world’s attention, and its mountains have since captivated adventurers and tourists alike.
More than 10 percent of Nepalis are employed in tourism, and the government this year collected more than $5m in Everest permit fees as a record number of summit hopefuls arrived.
Ambassador Tapas Adhikari Sunday congratulated Naila Kiani, Sajid Ali Sadpara and other climbers on successfully ascending Mt Everest, the world’s tallest mountain. Naila Kiani is the first Pakistani to conquer Mount Everest.
The envoy said: “This success will inspire other Pakistani women forthcoming in mountaineering.”
Naila Kiani became the first Pakistani woman climber to summit five peaks of over 8,000m height when she successfully ascended Mt Everest (8849m) last month.
Ambassador Tapas Adhikari said the Nepalese government was ready to provide every facility to the future climbers.
On the occasion, Naila Kiani said she embark Tuesday on another expedition to attempt 8,126-metre Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninth highest mountain.
“I will be leaving Islamabad tomorrow to climb the majestic Nanga Parbat. I know it is a challenging task but I feel myself fully prepared to conquer the peak,” she said.
With a death probability of 21%, Nanga Parbat, which is located in Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan, continues to claim its place in the top five most dangerous mountains in the world. Till now 85 of the climbers have died while attempting it.
A mother of two kids, Naila is a Dubai-based Pakistani banker and an amateur boxer. She first rose to prominence after images of her wedding shoot at K2 Base Camp in 2018 circulated on social media.
She summited Gasherbrum-II (8,035m) in 2021, Gasherbrum-I (8,068m) and K2 (8611) in July 2022, and Annapurna (8,091m) in 2023. She climbed K2, the world’s second tallest peak shortly after Samina Baig, who was the first Pakistani woman to achieve the feat.
Sajid Ali Sadpara said he really enjoyed climbing. “My father (Ali Sadpara) was globally known. I have to follow him,” he said.
Sadpara said he had climbed several eight thousanders (highest mountains) and will continue to add to his record.
