Mountaineer Naila gets Sitara-e-Imtiaz

ISLAMABAD: Mountaineer Naila Kiani added another feather to her cap when she received the highest civilian award, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, from the President of Pakistan on March 22nd at Aiwan-e-Sadar.

Naila stands as a trailblazer in the field of mountaineering, having achieved many milestones that set her apart. She is the first Pakistani woman climber to have conquered 10 peaks above 8,000 meters. Furthermore, she stands alone as the only Pakistani female to have ascended seven of these towering peaks within an incredible six-month timeframe.

Among her conquests are the majestic peaks of Mount Everest (8,848 meters) in 2023, K2 (8,611 meters) in 2022, Lhotse (8,516 meters) in 2023, Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters) in 2023, Manaslu (8,163 meters) in 2023, Annapurna (8,091 meters) in 2023, Broad Peak (8,051 meters) in 2023, Gasherbrum II (8,035 meters) in 2021, Gasherbrum I (8,080 meters) in 2022, and Cho Oyu (8,188 meters) in 2023.

“I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this prestigious award. Such kind of recognition gives hope and confidence not only to me but to all aspiring female mountaineers. This recognition fuels my passion for mountaineering even more, and I am inspired to continue pushing boundaries and striving for excellence in my future endeavors,” she said.

Kiani has set her sights even higher. She aims to scale all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters within the next two years. Abdul Razak Dawood, the President of the Bilquis and Abdul Razak Dawood (BARD) Foundation, says, “We are immensely proud to have been part of Naila Kiani’s outstanding journey, and we wholeheartedly congratulate our BARD fellow on this well-deserved recognition. Her achievement in receiving the Sitara-e-Imtiaz reflects her dedication and perseverance in mountaineering. Kiani’s determination and passion continue to inspire us all.