Web Desk/The News
KARACHI: Samina Khayal Baig all set to climb K2, the hardest peak in the world for climbers that took 74 lives of summiteers. She also criticizes government for not supporting the game of mountaineering, which is getting famous among youth and lot of women are taking interest as well.
“It is important to support women in adventure sport. World recognises this sport but in Pakistan nobody cares,”
Samina became Pakistan’s first woman to climb the Mount Everest. Next year, at the age of 24, Samina Baig captured all seven summits.
Samina told media that climbing K2 has always been her dream and she’s planning to do so for last two years but she hasn’t got enough support for the expedition and government seems least interested to support.
Although the Everest is 237-metre taller, K2 is widely perceived to be a far harder climb, she said.
According to reports, the K2 ranks as one of the most dangerous mountains in the world to climb. It is estimated that 74 of the K2’s 280 summiteers have died, meaning that 26 percent of those who reached the top died on the way back down.
Samina added that it is disappointing that despite bringing laurels, the sport of mountaineering isn’t getting the due support. “Last year, we were planning to take Pakistan’s first-ever women’s team to Everest. It would’ve been country’s first women expedition to the Everest but it couldn’t work as we did not get any support,” she said.
Samina highlighted that since her summit to the Everest, a lot of women mountaineers have joined in and are doing good for country.
“We have come a long way, a lot of youth especially women are now taking interest in mountaineering, we get equal participation from women in our training camps and there are women who have climbed 6,700 peaks, so it is a wonderful thing,” she explained.
“It is important to support women in adventure sport. World recognises this sport but in Pakistan nobody cares,” Samina emphasised.
Being from a small village of Gilgit-Baltistan, Samina said her achievement has also encouraged other girls of her village to excel in sports and other activities.
“Before 2013, there was not much awareness about sports, but since I summit Mount Everest it gave other women a motivation that they could also achieve something in their respective field,” she said.
“And not only mountaineering, it is heartening to see girls in GB generally taking part in sports, sports like football and volleyball as well,” she concluded.