Renowned high-altitude mountaineer Naila Kiani has been appointed as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Girls' Education by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.
Naila Kiani, celebrated for her extraordinary mountaineering achievements, will now leverage her platform to advocate for girls' education across Pakistan.
Naila Kiani's mountaineering feats are unparalleled. She is the first Pakistani woman and the overall third Pakistani to have climbed 11 of the world's 14 highest peaks, all above 8,000 meters.
She holds the distinction of being the first Pakistani woman to climb an 8,000-meter mountain within Pakistan. She is the first Pakistani woman to summit Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum I (G-I), Gasherbrum II (G-II), Lhotse, Manaslu, Broad Peak, Annapurna, Makalu, and Cho Oyu.
She is one of only ten mountaineers globally, and the only Pakistani, to have climbed multiple (seven) peaks above 8,000 meters within six months, achieved in 2023. Additionally, she is the fastest Pakistani, regardless of gender, to climb all eleven 8,000-meter peaks in less than three years. Naila Kiani is the only female athlete to receive the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan's highest civilian honor awarded, to a female athlete.
As the National Goodwill Ambassador for Girls' Education, Naila Kiani aims to highlight the importance of education for girls and support related initiatives by federal and provincial governments.
An aerospace engineer and banker by profession, Naila Kiani is a staunch believer in the power of education to empower women and drive national progress. In her new role, she will focus on raising awareness about the critical importance of girls' education, supporting and promoting government’s initiatives to improve educational opportunities for girls, and inspiring young girls nationwide to pursue their dreams and reach their full potential.
Naila Kiani's appointment underscores her dedication to both her nation and the cause of women's education, promising a brighter future for countless young girls across Pakistan.