Pakistan's first female Everest conqueror sets new goals

Google – AFP, Gohar Abbas (AFP), 26 November 2013

Photo received from Pakistan Youth Outreach (PYO) and taken on May 19, 2013

 shows Pakistani climber Samina Baig holding her national flag on the peak of Mount

Everest, Nepal (Pakistan Youth Outreach/AFP/File)

Islamabad — The first Pakistani woman to climb Mount Everest is to embark on an expedition to summit seven major peaks around the world, to advocate female empowerment and action on climate change.

Samina Baig in June became the first Pakistani woman to reach the 8,848 metre (29,029 foot) summit of the world's tallest mountain, after a gruelling expedition in rough weather.

Now she and her brother Mirza Ali Baig will set off on Saturday to tackle Mount Vinson, the highest in Antarctica, Argentina's Aconcagua, the tallest peak in the Americas and others in Russia, Indonesia and Nepal.

The Adventure Diplomacy Group (ADG) consisting of the embassies of Argentina, Indonesia, Nepal, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America is supporting the duo in their voyage.

Picture taken on June 4, 2013 shows

 Pakistani climber Samina Baig during an

 interview with AFP in Islamabad (AFP/File,

Aamir Qureshi)

Hailing from Hunza valley in Pakistan's northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, Samina, 21, said mountaineering was not only a sport for her, but a means to inspire women.

Many women in Pakistan suffer severe discrimination, domestic violence and they are often victims of so-called "honour" killings -- when someone is murdered for allegedly bringing dishonour upon her family.

"I want to tell women in developing countries that they are as powerful as their male counterparts and they can play an equal role in their respective societies," Samina told AFP.

Northern Pakistan is home to some of the world's most impressive mountains and glaciers and is renowned for its particularly challenging climbs, including K2, the world's second highest peak.

But the climbing industry was badly affected by the massacre of 10 foreign mountaineers at the foot of Pakistan's second highest mountain Nanga Parbat in June.

Mirza, an experienced mountain guide, expedition leader and trainer in the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindu Kush ranges, said he wanted to push a more positive message.

"Our aim is also to promote peace and love for nature and its inhabitants. We've had enough of bombs, we should give peace a chance now," he said.

Equal rights

Samina said she took inspiration from her own small community in the rugged terrain of the Karakorum mountain range in Pakistan's extreme north.

"A girl child has as equal rights as their male counterparts and our community does everything to educate female children," Samina said.

Nestled among some of the highest mountains of the world, Hunza is inhabited by moderate Shia Ismaili Muslims, followers of the Aga Khan.

The area has the highest literacy rate in the country with female literacy rate standing at a one hundred percent.

"When I came to the city for the first time, I saw a completely different world, where people are less educated, poverty is widespread and (the) female is a non-existent species compared to their male counterparts" Samina said.

"But in my community, women are as important as males and they are playing an equal role in the society."

With a network of schools and hospitals established by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), the Ismailis of Hunza have evolved into one of the developed communities in Pakistan where education as the young Samina says "is a religious obligation".

Pakistan's teenage activist Malala Yousafzai is awarded with the
Sakharov Prize  for Freedom of Thought by European Parliament
chief Martin Schulz in Strasbourg, eastern France, on November 20,
2013 (AFP, Patrick) 

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Aisha North, Feb 8, 2013

The manuscript of survival – part 265 - (Constant Companions channeled through Aisha North)

Aisha North

As you have noticed, there are many stirrings in the undercurrent now, and some of the light is already starting to penetrate the fog that has enveloped mankind for such a long time. At the moment, this will seem to be mere pinpricks of light in a huge ocean of darkness, but do not let that fool you. As we have talked about so many times, this layer of darkness that still seems to cover most of your planet is only an illusion, a thin film of confusion covering up the new reality. And now, this reality will start to become more and more visible. Not only to you, but also to others out there, people who look upon themselves as no more than an ordinary citizen, but who will soon start to realize that they too have the power to change not only their own life, but also the lives of so many others.

And they will do so in a peaceful way, for we do not speak of a violent upsurging, far from it. For have you not witnessed already how the power and might of an armed scoundrel is not match for the power of the light? We refer of course to the story of the brave girl who had to face armed assassins because she stood up for her right to educate herself (From Aisha: I think they refer to the story of Malala Yousafzai). If you look closely at her story, you will see how the light penetrating her has been seeping into thousands, if not millions of others already. So she is indeed a shining example on how one of these pinpricks of light can blow away a huge area of fog and darkness, and how the forces of ill intent are no match for the light, for those bullets being aimed at her did not kill the light, it only made it that much stronger.

So let that be a lesson to you all on how nothing and no one can stop the light, no matter how hard they try. For the force of anger and hatred is not match for the love and compassion that is starting to grow on your planet now. And even if these forces of the old are trying their hardest to instill the old fear into you all, they will not succeed, no matter how many weapons they fire off, or how many people they beat to a pulp. For they cannot beat you now dear ones, you are the ones who have won this battle for the souls.

For in your soul, the light is growing stronger and stronger, and with it, the power you carry. And through your example, just like the girl who took the bullets in order to let the light shine out to the whole world, the change will come, step by step, person to person. For you are also brave, and even if you will never have to face the same hardships as this girl, you too will have to conquer the world with your actions. For you are indeed the bravest of the brave, and you have walked through fire to get where you are today. And doing that, you have liberated not only yourself, but thousands upon thousands of your fellow men and women. For you have hacked a trail trough that dense jungle of fear and darkness, and following in your footsteps are the rest of humanity. With a few exceptions of course, and they will clamor and cry as loud as they can in order to make you all believe that they still outnumber you. But they do not, and that is what you will all see as the days keep getting lighter and lighter, and those pinpricks of lights grow ever brighter and ever bigger.

So fear not, as fear has been diminished to such a state it is but a shadow of itself. That shadow is still touching the hearts of many around you, but that shadow is also thinning out, and it will be replaced by light in even the sturdiest of hearts. For light has no boundaries, only the fear has that now, so light is spreading out faster and faster, and the courage it inspires in you all is growing with it. So stand tall and proud, and know that you too has been a part of that journey from the darkest abyss and to this, the threshold of everlasting light. And know too that your actions will never go unnoticed, as you have all been instrumental in this about turn of the human race. So look around, and we think you will find these shining examples starting to emerge in every corner of your world, even in the places where you least expect them to. For, as we said, the light has no boundaries, certainly not one set by any human, and no line on the map or no wall, no matter how high it is, can keep it out. So again we say rejoice, for the morning has broken, and the day is about to start. And this day is one that will last forever.