Mountaineer Samina Baig has become the first Pakistani woman to climb K2 – the second highest mountain in the world.
Earlier, Samina had scaled Mount Everest – the highest mountain in the world – in 2013.
The 31-year-old also holds the honour of scaling the seven highest peaks in the world, known as the Seven Summits.
“We are extremely proud to announce that Samina Baig, with her strong Pakistani team, successfully summited 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 this morning at 7:42am,” said a statement by Samina’s team at ground.
“Grateful and blessed that K2 allowed her to stand atop this incredible mountain,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Samina on the achievement.
“Congratulations to Samina Baig, the first Pakistani woman mountaineer to reach the summit of the world’s second highest peak, K2, and her family on their accomplishment. Samina Baig has emerged as a symbol of Pakistani women’s determination, courage, and bravery,” the PM said in a tweet.
It is pertinent to mention that winds on K2’s peak can blow at more than 200 kilometres per hour (125 miles per hour) and temperatures drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius (minus 76 Fahrenheit).
