ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif appreciated mountaineer Naila Kiani for scaling the world’s third highest peak of Mountain Kanchenjunga.

The prime minister congratulated Naila Kiani on becoming the first Pakistani woman to summit Mount Kanchenjunga.

“Pakistanis are making their country proud in every field of sports,” he added.

The prime minister further said that setting records in challenging sports like mountaineering by Pakistani women was a source of strength.

Earlier, Pakistani mountaineer Naila Kiani had reached the summit of Mount Kanchenjunga (8,586m), becoming the first Pakistani woman to scale 12 of the world’s 14 highest peaks over 8,000 metres.

With this achievement, Naila Kiani joins an elite group of global mountaineers who have climbed 12 of the world’s 14 peaks above 8,000 meters.

She now has only two peaks left to conquer Cho Oyu and Shishapangma  to complete all fourteen 8,000-meter summits.

The expedition was supported by the BARD Foundation, an initiative of Bilquis and Abdul Razak Dawood aimed at supporting Pakistani talent. “What Naila has achieved is historic,” said Abdul Razak Dawood. “Her drive and purpose reflect the values we aim to champion.”