Latest news with #Naila
Business Recorder
24-05-2025
- Business Recorder
Naila Kiani summits Kanchenjunga
LAHORE: Pakistani mountaineer, Naila Kiani, has successfully summited Kanchenjunga (8,586m)—the world's third highest mountain, becoming the first Pakistani woman to conquer this formidable peak. With this milestone, Naila now stands among an elite group of global mountaineers, having scaled 12 out of the world's 14 highest peaks above 8,000 meters, continuing her unprecedented journey of defying limits. With just two summits remaining, she is edging closer to becoming one of only 17 women in the world to have conquered all 14 of the planet's 8,000-meter giants. Naila is not only a climber but a change-maker. She has led environmental campaigns, such as a high-altitude cleanup at K2, and a recovery mission for Pakistani porter Muhammad Hassan Shigri, bringing closure to his grieving family. As a mother of two, a former banker, and a passionate advocate for sustainable climbing, Naila Kiani defies traditional molds and inspires a new generation of Pakistanis, especially young women, to dream beyond the boundaries placed before them. Naila Kiani's rise in the mountaineering world is as inspiring as it is unprecedented. From her first successful summit of Gasherbrum II—achieved while balancing a demanding career in finance and the responsibilities of motherhood—to conquering giants such as Everest, K2, Lhotse, Annapurna I, and Makalu, she has consistently defied the odds and broken barriers. In just under three years, she became the first Pakistani woman to summit 11 of the world's highest peaks above 8,000 meters. These include K2 (8,611m), known as the savage mountain and Pakistan's tallest peak; Everest (8,848m), the highest peak in the world; Lhotse (8,516m); Makalu (8,485m); Annapurna I (8,091m); as well as Broad Peak, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Gasherbrum I and II, and Nanga Parbat. In 2023 alone, she achieved the extraordinary feat of summiting seven 8,000-meter peaks within just six months, placing her in the company of only a handful of climbers worldwide to have accomplished such a milestone in a single climbing season. Behind Naila's extraordinary pursuit of the world's highest peaks stands a consistent force—the BARD Foundation. Their continued support is not just a partnership, but a commitment to seeing her through to the summit and beyond. Mehreen Dawood, Member – Board of Governors, shared, 'Naila represents the very spirit we aim to nurture at BARD: resilience, courage, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence. Her summits are not just personal victories—they are milestones for all Pakistani women. We are proud to support her journey and amplify the impact she continues to make globally.' Abdul Razak Dawood, President – BARD Foundation said, 'What Naila has achieved is historic. Her drive, integrity, and purpose embody the values of the BARD Foundation. We believe in backing talent that breaks barriers, and Naila is the perfect example of what can be accomplished when ambition meets opportunity.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Gulf Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Dubai resident Naila Kiani summits world's third highest mountain
Dubai resident and Pakistan's pride and mountaineering icon, Naila Kiani, on Friday morning, at 4:44am (UAE Standard Time, has successfully summited Kanchenjunga (8,586 metre) — the world's third highest mountain, situated in Nepal, becoming the first Pakistani woman to conquer this formidable peak. This remarkable achievement makes her only the second Muslim woman in history to climb 12 of the planet's 14 peaks above 8,000 metres, accomplished by 16 women historically. Naila is not only a mountaineer but a change-maker. She has led environmental campaigns, such as a high-altitude cleanup at K2 , and a recovery mission for Pakistani porter Muhammad Hassan Shigri, bringing closure to his grieving family. As a mother of two, a former banker, and a passionate advocate for sustainable climbing, Naila defies traditional molds and inspires a new generation of Pakistanis, especially young women, to dream beyond the boundaries placed before them. Naila Kiani with her team members wave Pakistan's national flag at Kanchenjunga mountain. Before starting the summit push, through a message to her team, Naila had said, 'Climbing Kanchenjunga has been an incredibly difficult expedition and a harsh reminder of how hard it is to climb mountains over 8,000m.' 'Kanchenjunga is known for its treacherous terrains and unpredictable weather,' she added. Living in Dubai and proudly sponsored by the BARD Foundation, Kiani credits both the UAE's ambitious spirit and her sponsor's rock-solid belief in her potential as key forces behind her journey. 'The UAE has been more than just my home, it has been the gateway to everything I dared to dream,' said Kiani after the summit. 'This is a country that doesn't just believe in the impossible, it makes it happen.' Naila Kiani credits the UAE's ambitious spirit as a key force behind her journey. 'Behind Naila's extraordinary pursuit of the world's highest peaks stands a consistent force, the BARD Foundation. Their continued support is not just a partnership, but a commitment to seeing her through to the summit and beyond.' Abdul Razak Dawood, President - BARD Foundation, praised the historic nature of her achievement. 'What Naila has achieved is historic. Her drive, integrity, and purpose embody the values of the BARD Foundation. We believe in backing talent that breaks barriers, and Naila is the perfect example of what can be accomplished when ambition meets opportunity.' Naila began her summit push at 5:30pm UAE time on Thursday after a full day of climbing. Battling through the night in brutal high altitude conditions, facing heavy snowfall, extreme cold, and dangerous terrain, she reached the summit of Kanchenjunga in the early hours of Friday (May 23) . Her endurance and courage under such conditions reflect not only her personal grit but also the relentless pursuit of excellence fostered by her home in the UAE. Naila has already summited 11 out of the world's 14 peaks above 8,000m, including Everest, K2, Broad Peak, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, Annapurna, Lhotse, Manaslu, Makalu and Cho Oyu. The 14 Peak Challenge remains one of the greatest tests in mountaineering: only 14 mountains on Earth rise above 8,000 metres, each posing deadly risks and extreme physical demands. With 12 summits now behind her, Naila is closer than ever to completing this elite challenge. Born in Pakistan, studied at university in the United Kingdom, and shaped by a decade of life in Dubai, Naila embodies the multidimensional identity of the modern Muslim woman. She is an aerospace engineer, banker, mother of two, competitive boxer, and co founder of the AI startup In 2023, she was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan's highest civilian honour, becoming the first and only sportswoman in the nation's history to receive the distinction. But her journey transcends borders, sending a global message of what is possible when courage meets opportunity and when belief, both institutional and personal, fuels the climb. As Naila prepares for the final two 8,000 metre peaks, she stands not only on the edge of mountaineering history but as a symbol of what women, Muslims, and Dubai based athletes can achieve on the world stage. Earlier, it was reported that Kiani was in Nepal preparing for her next formidable challenge: summiting Kanchenjunga (8,586 metres), the third-highest mountain in the world. This expedition marks another powerful stride in her mission to become one of the few climbers globally, and among an even more elite group of women, to scale all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres. A recipient of the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, one of the highest civilian honours, Kiani is a modern symbol of resilience, diversity, and multidimensional success. An aerospace engineer, competitive boxer, mother of two, and tech entrepreneur of she is also the founder of Naila Kiani Adventures, a travel and expedition company.
Express Tribune
23-05-2025
- Express Tribune
12 down, 2 to go: Naila Kiani summits Kanchenjunga
Listen to article Pakistan's pride and mountaineering icon, Naila Kiani, has successfully summited Kanchenjunga (8,586m)—the world's third highest mountain, becoming the first Pakistani woman to conquer this formidable peak. With this milestone, Naila now stands among an elite group of global mountaineers, having scaled 12 out of the world's 14 highest peaks above 8,000 meters, continuing her unprecedented journey of defying limits. With just two summits remaining, she is edging closer to becoming one of only 17 women in the world to have conquered all 14 of the planet's 8,000-meter giants. Naila is not only a climber but a change-maker. She has led environmental campaigns, such as a high-altitude cleanup at K2, and a recovery mission for Pakistani porter Muhammad Hassan Shigri, bringing closure to his grieving family. As a mother of two, a former banker, and a passionate advocate for sustainable climbing, Naila Kiani defies traditional molds and inspires a new generation of Pakistanis, especially young women, to dream beyond the boundaries placed before them. Naila Kiani's rise in the mountaineering world is as inspiring as it is unprecedented. From her first successful summit of Gasherbrum II—achieved while balancing a demanding career in finance and the responsibilities of motherhood—to conquering giants such as Everest, K2, Lhotse, Annapurna I, and Makalu, she has consistently defied the odds and broken barriers. In just under three years, she became the first Pakistani woman to summit 11 of the world's highest peaks above 8,000 meters. These include K2 (8,611m), known as the savage mountain and Pakistan's tallest peak; Everest (8,848m), the highest peak in the world; Lhotse (8,516m); Makalu (8,485m); Annapurna I (8,091m); as well as Broad Peak, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Gasherbrum I and II, and Nanga Parbat. In 2023 alone, she achieved the extraordinary feat of summiting seven 8,000-meter peaks within just six months, placing her in the company of only a handful of climbers worldwide to have accomplished such a milestone in a single climbing season. Behind Naila's extraordinary pursuit of the world's highest peaks stands a consistent force—the BARD Foundation. Their continued support is not just a partnership, but a commitment to seeing her through to the summit and beyond. Mehreen Dawood, Member – Board of Governors, shared: 'Naila represents the very spirit we aim to nurture at BARD: resilience, courage, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence. Her summits are not just personal victories—they are milestones for all Pakistani women. We are proud to support her journey and amplify the impact she continues to make globally.' Abdul Razak Dawood, President – BARD Foundation said: 'What Naila has achieved is historic. Her drive, integrity, and purpose embody the values of the BARD Foundation. We believe in backing talent that breaks barriers, and Naila is the perfect example of what can be accomplished when ambition meets opportunity.' Now, with only two 8,000-meter peaks left to summit—Cho Oyu and Shishapangma—Naila is within striking distance of completing all 14 of the world's highest peaks, a dream few have dared to chase and even fewer have achieved.
Express Tribune
30-04-2025
- Express Tribune
3 held for travelling on fake documents
Three passengers who had arrived from the Maldives were arrested for traveling on fake documents the FIA Faisalabad Zone. A team arrested Umar Farooq, Naila and Ashraf Mahmood and started interrogating them. The suspects had arrived in Pakistan from the Maldives on a flight, but initial investigation showed that they had used fake travel documents, including Portuguese passports. They had traveled abroad through illegal means and had been deported from the Maldives after the discovery of the forged documents during their stay there. The suspects were allegedly in contact with an agent named Arshad who resides in the United Kingdom (UK). They had paid him Rs600,000 for the arrangements related to international travel. The travel arrangements, including the provision of fake passports and boarding passes, had been managed by a local agent from Faisalabad, Muhammad Umair. The Federal Investigation Agency Faisalabad team also arrested a member of a human trafficking gang that forced people to beg. The suspect, Zahoor Ahmed, was arrested at the Sialkot International Airport on his return from Saudi Arabia. Initial investigation showed that Zahoor was part of a gang. Other suspected members of the gang include Muhammad Ghafoor and Sharif. The group smuggled innocent people to Saudi Arabia by promising them Umrah and jobs abroad. Upon reaching Saudi Arabia, the victims were intimidated and deceived into begging and forced labour. The group had recently smuggled five women to Saudi Arabia by promising them Umrah visas and forced them into begging.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Everybody around here lost something': How teens are coping after the Eaton fire
On a recent Saturday afternoon, at an art therapy event at Pasadena City Church, 11-year-old Eleanor Norman sat at a table and dipped her brush into the watercolors in front of her to paint a picture: a bright red phoenix flying over a pink sunset. In some ways, the phoenix — a mythical creature often associated with strength and rebirth — was symbolic of what she was experiencing: Her Altadena home, where her family lived for nearly a decade, was damaged in the Eaton fire, which displaced thousands of residents and destroyed more than 9,400 structures. The family is currently staying with Eleanor's great-grandmother in San Marino. Eleanor and her father were among dozens of families who attended the event called 'Somebody I Love Lives in L.A.,' which was hosted by Dena Rebuild, a community coalition run by three women with deep roots in Pasadena. As feel-good songs like Alicia Myers' "I Want to Thank You" played over the speakers inside the dome-shaped church, children ranging from infants to teenagers partook in a day of art activities including painting, crochet and bead making. They could also get free haircuts, facials, experience a petting zoo and shop the free donation center filled with toys, books, clothing and snacks. Zaria Smith, 27, of Dena Rebuild and her fellow organizers wanted to host the event in order to give kids and their parents a mental break. 'A lot of times when things like this happen, you just think about the necessities,' Smith said. 'But you don't think about how the kids' lives got turned upside down. Some of them don't even register what's going on. They just know one day they are able to go home and the next day they are living in a hotel.' Read more: Free camps are offering a safe space for kids as L.A. fires cause child-care upheaval As the community starts to grapple with how to rebuild, we wanted to hear from young people. Attendees, ranging from 11 to 18, shared with us how their lives have changed, what they are worried about and what's keeping them optimistic about the future. Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. How was your family impacted by the Eaton fire? Naila: The houses surrounding our house were on fire, so now our house is not livable. But we do have all of our stuff, which is a big blessing. We still got to get all of our stuff and move. Anala: I was in shock when we went back home because we were told that our house wasn't there, and I was excited because I knew I was going to get all my stuff back. Naila: Yeah, same because we were told that our whole neighborhood was gone, but when we saw it, it was like a moment of relief. For outsiders who don't understand the gravity of this tragedy, what do you wish they knew? Naila: Everyone's really close with each other, so when one person is impacted by the fire, a lot of other people are too. The community is just so amazing and supportive. I think that the community itself hasn't changed, and it's gotten better because people started helping others. So I think it's only the houses [that changed], but not the relationships. Has your life changed? Naila: Not that much. Like we moved, but we're still going to the same school and we weren't hurt or harmed in any way. So honestly, our life has only changed from our setting, not really, like, our relations with people. What are you most worried about? Anala: My friends because two of them lost their houses. I've seen them, but they don't really talk about it. Naila: Probably just how long it's going to take to rebuild because I've seen it and there's a lot of damage. I feel like it's going to take a long time. What's been making you smile these days? Anala: We've just been staying with family and staying together a lot and having fun. Naila: Being blessed because there's just so many people who've helped us, and we have our house, and that's just a humongous blessing. Is there anything you'd like to tell your community? Anala: Stay strong, think about the future and keep focusing on your dreams. Naila: Stay strong and instead of thinking about everything bad that happened, count your blessings and just be grateful for what you still do have. How was your family impacted by the Eaton fire? My home is OK, but it has smoke damage, and we had to evacuate for a week. Some of my family lost their homes. You know, it's bad on all of our family, because that's all of our friends, all of our relatives, all the people we grew up with, the city that we grew up in. For outsiders who don't understand the gravity of this tragedy, what do you wish they knew? People's lives changed. Everybody. All of my teachers, many of the people who care about me — because I go to school in Altadena — lost their homes. Like my history teacher, he's the best dude in the world and he lost his home for no reason, so it hurts to see it. Our community is gone. How has your life changed? Since the fires, I think I have more gratitude towards other people. I think I can feel more for other people. I'm just more sympathetic for everybody around me, especially the people who lost their homes because everybody around here lost something. It doesn't matter what it is, everybody around here lost something. What are you most worried about? The rebuild of our community in Altadena. If they try to change it and change the cultural background of it. It's a historically Black neighborhood, historically Black community, culture, everything and if they try to change it, that's what I'm worried about. What's been making you smile these days? Just doing what I do. I like to make music. I make beats. I can play the guitar and bass a little bit — they go hand in hand. I play the keyboard. I do anything to help my music. When we evacuated, I took my equipment with me. That was a priority. I had to bring my computer and my MIDI keyboard. I like to spend time with my family, so that's what I've been up to because we haven't been in school for the past three weeks. We've only had two days of school just last Thursday and Friday. Read more: Beloved toys and stuffed animals are gone. How parents can help kids understand L.A. fires How was your family impacted by the Eaton fire? We live at the bottom of the mountain, so at first we didn't think the fire would come to our area because it would either have to spread quickly and be really strong — and it did. So out of like 42 houses in our area, our house was [one of] maybe seven or eight that survived. Our garage burned down, but the house survived. My parents were there with my uncle fighting fires all day because there were no firemen there. I'm really proud of them. So I mean, it's bad, it was scary but I just tried to think about the good things. Hey, my house was still there. How has your life changed? Yes, in a lot of different ways. I mean, like, emotionally, I feel way more on edge, but I'm living at my great-grandma's house right now with my family. I miss a lot of my things because I kind of just got my own room like maybe six months before. I actually just finished decorating and putting up all my lights maybe two days before the fire. So I'm kind of sad that I can't live there anymore. Well, at least for a very long time. What are you most worried about? I really hope my neighbors who lost their homes rebuild because I want to have that community again. What's been making you smile these days? A lot of different things because I smile very easily, but seeing my family a lot. I actually spent like three days at my aunt's house before we got settled at my great-grandma's house. But I don't know, a bunch of things, especially mini things because I love mini things like my little, mini foods. How was your family impacted by the Eaton fire? Thank God my family that I live with — my mom, sister, pops — were all good. We just had to evacuate to downtown L.A., not too far, but unfortunately my great-grandparents lost their house and that's basically my childhood. They evacuated, but not with us. They are safe. When I call them, they say they are fine but I know deep down it hurts to lose your home. What will you miss most? Not an item, but definitely the basement. It was a room of just stuff and all my cousins [and I] would play hide and seek in there or tag or get the Nerf guns and have a shoot-out in the backyard. For outsiders who can't understand the gravity of this tragedy, what do you want them to know? Don't take anything for granted. Life is unexpected at times, so you just take it day by day. Don't say, "Oh, I'm gonna have this forever" because, you know, it might be gone the next second, next hour, whenever. How has your life changed? It hasn't really changed because I'm still on my same workout regimen. I go to the gym. I go to the football field. I still do all of that, just the only thing that has changed is my house. We just went back to school on Thursday. What are you most worried about? Really my football season because I'm thinking about football and I'm trying to make it to college one day. So I'm trying to put the work and get better every single day. What's been making you smile these days? Quality time with my family. We're really just here spending time together more than we ever have. Is there anything you'd like to tell your community? We gon' stick together. We gon' get through this. We gon' build it from the ground up if we have to and restore our community. How was your family impacted by the Eaton fire? My dad was [in Pasadena while] my siblings, my mom and I were on vacation. I didn't know [about the fires] until my friend told me and she started sending me videos. I got really emotional because I feel bad for everybody that was affected by the fire. [My aunt and] some of my friends lost their homes. [My family's home was OK.] For outsiders who don't understand the gravity of this tragedy, what do you wish they knew? It was really scary because the wind was too hard and the fire was out of control. What are you most worried about? I'm just worried about my aunt because she lost her house to the fire. She has three kids. What's been making you smile these days? My friends. They've just been there with me. How was your family impacted by the Eaton fire? My auntie's house wasn't burned down — she lives in Altadena — but her garage and back house was. My grandfather lives in Pasadena. Nothing got burned down, but because he's old, the ashes and the air quality was really bad for him. He really couldn't go outside. They also sent an [alert] about the water, so he couldn't really use it. And my uncle's house in Altadena was completely burned down. Luckily, he was out of state when it happened, so he wasn't injured. What will you miss most about their homes? I have memories of being at my aunt's house. After practice, I would go chill there, sometimes spend a night. I would just be with my cousins, just at the house, chilling. So now that I know that, like the back house and some of the backyard is gone, that's just really crazy to me, because I used to be there a lot. For outsiders who can't understand the gravity of this tragedy, what do you want them to know? In reality, it's a tragedy because the city that we all grew up in is almost completely gone. What are you most worried about? For all of the people that were in Altadena [who] lost their house, how will they get it back? Or how will they rebuild it and not [have] someone else from the outside come and buy it back and now it's theirs? What's been making you smile these days? That my family is still there and they're still operating. So even though we lost the house, we didn't lose the actual person. Is there anything you'd like to tell your community? We are here and helping and donating and doing what we can to get back to where the city once was. Sign up for The Wild newsletter to get weekly insider tips on the best of our beaches, trails, parks, deserts, forests and mountains. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
