Samina Baig wins cash prize for Everest accomplishment
23-year-old is the first Pakistani woman to climb Mount Everest in May this year
Islamabad: Samina Baig‚ the first Pakistani woman who climbed Mount Everest in May this year, received a cash prize of rupees 2.5 million from the government at a ceremony in Islamabad on Friday.
Federal Minister for Interior Provincial Coordination Mian Hussain Riaz Pirzada gave the cheque to the 23-year old climber on behalf of Prime Minister Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Addressing the ceremony‚ the minister expressed confidence that other women would also come forward in the area of sports including mountaineering to project the soft image of Pakistan.
He said the government was working for the development of sports and culture and would encourage participation of women.
Speaking on the occasion‚ Samina Baig hoped that her effort will encourage other women as well to actively participate in different sports.
Baig comes from Shimshal village in Hunza area in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region. Climbing has been her passion since childhood.
She became the first Pakistani woman and the third Pakistani to climb Mount Everest on May 19, 2013. She was joined by Indian twin girls Tashi and Nancy in climbing Mount Everest and they together perched national flags of India and Pakistan side-by-side atop the peak,
“My most cherished desire is to help our women come out of their routine chores and infuse in them the indefatigable spirit of adventure,” said Samina Baig in a media interview after her accomplishment.
