
Sirbaz is now among a select group of around 70 climbers globally to have summited all 14 peaks.
Listen to article
Pakistani mountaineer Sirbaz Khan has made history by becoming the first Pakistani to summit all of the world's 8,000-metre peaks without the use of supplemental oxygen.
Sirbaz Khan, who hails from Hunza Valley, reached the top of Kangchenjunga (8,586 metres) on Sunday, completing a years-long campaign across the world's highest and most dangerous mountains.
While he had previously climbed all 14 peaks by 2024, two of his earlier summits had been made using bottled oxygen. In April 2025, he re-climbed Annapurna, and now Kangchenjunga, both without artificial oxygen, to accomplish the feat under pure alpine style.
Sirbaz Khan is now among a select group of around 70 climbers globally to have summited all 14 peaks. Fewer than 25 have done so entirely without supplemental oxygen, a demanding feat that involves climbing in the so-called "death zone", where oxygen levels are critically low.
His journey began in 2017 with a successful ascent of Nanga Parbat (8,126m), one of the world's most treacherous mountains. He went on to climb K2 in 2018, Lhotse in 2019 — becoming the first Pakistani to summit it — and Broad Peak without oxygen that same year.
In subsequent years, Sirbaz Khan added Manaslu, Annapurna, Everest, Gasherbrum I and II, Dhaulagiri, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma to his record, often as the first Pakistani to do so.
Earlier, Sajid Ali Sadpara successfully scaled Dhaulagiri, the world's seventh-highest mountain at 8,167 metres, without the use of supplemental oxygen.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
20 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Babar, Rizwan tumble from ICC T20I top 10, Haris climbs into top 30
Listen to article In a significant reshuffle following Pakistan's recent T20I series against Bangladesh, former captains Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan have dropped out of the top 10 in the ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings, while emerging batter Mohammad Haris has surged into the top 30 after a stellar performance. According to the latest rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday, Babar has fallen three places to 12th, while Rizwan has slipped one spot to 13th. The two had held positions in the top 10 for several months and were Pakistan's most consistent performers in the format, but were dropped from the recent T20I series against Bangladesh following a dismal run of form. No Pakistani player currently features in the top 10 of the T20I batting rankings. Despite the slide in senior players' rankings, the spotlight has shifted to rising talent Mohammad Haris, who made a remarkable jump of 210 positions to reach 30th. His explosive unbeaten 107 off 46 balls in the third T20I against Bangladesh capped off a successful series in which he also scored 41 and 31 in the earlier matches. Haris finished as the series' leading run-scorer with 167 runs at an impressive strike rate of 201.12. Youngster Hasan Nawaz, who ended the series as the second-highest run-getter with 121 runs, also made significant gains, climbing 57 places to reach the 46th spot. Saim Ayub improved four spots to 61st, while skipper Salman Ali Agha advanced 42 positions to 76th. Australia's Travis Head now tops the T20I batting charts, followed by India's Abhishek Sharma and England's Phil Salt in second and third places, respectively. On the bowling front, pacer Abbas Afridi moved up 18 places to share the 19th spot with South Africa's Anrich Nortje and Pakistan's Haris Rauf. Afridi impressed with figures of 2 for 26 in the high-scoring third T20I. All-rounder Shadab Khan also saw improvement, climbing 10 places to 14th in the ICC Men's T20I All-rounder Rankings after contributing 55 runs and four wickets across the series.


Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistan airspace ban costs Air India Rs8.2b in 40 days
Listen to article As the airspace ban Pakistan slapped on Indian carriers drags on for forty days, the cost for Air India is turning from heavy to near-unsustainable, aviation sources said on Wednesday. The Indian national carrier has already taken a hit of over Rs8.2 billion since the closure began. According to well-placed aviation insiders, Air India is bleeding approximately Rs200 million each day due to longer alternate routes, increased fuel consumption and delays triggered by the airspace detour. In a sign of rising frustration, Air India's Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson has formally written to the Indian government, highlighting the scale of financial damage. In the letter, Wilson reportedly warned that continued restrictions could render airline operations unsustainable if not addressed soon. According to The Economic Times, an internal presentation showed that Air India had, late last year, set a target to become profitable by FY 27. However, the closure of Pakistani airspace for Indian carriers is likely to delay that. 'It will still take a little bit more time to achieve what we want to achieve, but it was a five-year project in the beginning,' Wilson said in the interview to the Economic Times, referring to the five-year transformation plan 'Vihaan' announced in September 2022. 'The closure of Pakistani airspace, which started on April 24, has forced Air India's flights to North America to take detours and stop in Vienna or Copenhagen to refuel, leading to increased expenses,' the report noted. 'It's not insignificant, but…as long as it covers the cost of operation, we will continue to operate,' Wilson said. 'We don't know the extent to which the bottom line is going to be affected. We will try to minimise the effect.' The CEO's concerns are not limited to Air India alone. Other Indian carriers have also reportedly suffered billions of rupees in cumulative losses, though precise estimates remain undisclosed. 'This isn't just turbulence, it's a full-blown storm for Indian aviation,' a senior aviation official remarked, noting that the 40-day closure has upended flight logistics, increased operational costs, and complicated international schedules for Indian carriers. The airspace restrictions, which came into effect in the wake of heightened diplomatic tensions, have now completed 40 days, with no breakthrough in sight. For airlines forced to circumvent Pakistani airspace, the sky is not only the limit but also a costly detour. As the ban continues, industry experts warn that Indian carriers might soon be compelled to cut routes or hike fares, passing the burden onto passengers, unless diplomatic channels find a way to clear the air.


Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Babar, Rizwan slip in ICC T20I rankings; Haris makes significant leap
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday released the latest T20I player rankings, revealing a significant reshuffle among Pakistani cricketers. Former captain Babar Azam has dropped three places to 12th, while wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has slipped one spot to 13th. Notably, no Pakistani player features in the top 10 of the current rankings. Australia's Travis Head leads the chart, followed by India's Abhishek Sharma and England's Phil Salt in second and third positions, respectively. Haris moves up, Shaheen slides in ICC T20I bowler's rankings Despite the decline of senior players, emerging talent Mohammad Haris has made a remarkable jump of 210 places, securing the 30th spot. Additionally, Hasan Nawaz has climbed 57 positions to reach 46th place. Other Pakistani players have also shown progress: Saim Ayub has moved up four spots to 61st, and captain Salman Ali Agha has advanced 42 places to 76th. The latest rankings highlight the evolving dynamics of Pakistan's T20I squad, with younger players making significant strides on the international stage.