ISLAMABAD: Renowned climber Salman Ateeque successfully scaled Mount Everest on Thursday, becoming the 13th Pakistani to reach the world’s highest peak.
Ateeque reached the summit of 8,849 meters at approximately 11:39 a.m. during the ongoing 2026 Himalayan climbing season, which has drawn hundreds of climbers from around the world.
About 464 climbing permits were issued this season to climbers from 80 countries, with the largest contingents from China and India, sources familiar with the matter said.
Ateeque was reportedly the only Pakistani climber to get an Everest permit this year.
The climber, who has a professional background in electrical engineering and over two decades of experience in the telecommunications sector, previously summited Mount Manaslu – the world’s eighth highest mountain – in Nepal last year.
Officials familiar with the expedition said Ateeque successfully navigated the perilous Khumbu icefall and pushed his summit attempt during a favorable weather window.
His ascent adds another chapter to Pakistan’s growing presence in high altitude mountaineering.
It is pertinent to mention here that Nazir Sabir became the first Pakistani to summit Everest in 2000, while Samina Baig made history in 2013 as the first Pakistani woman to reach the summit of the mountain.
Other notable Pakistani Everest summiteers include Hassan Sadpara, Mirza Ali Baig, Abdul Jabbar Bhatti, Shehroze Kashif, Sirbaz Khan, Sajid Ali Sadpara, Naila Kiani, Wajidullah Nagri, Abdul Joshi and Saad Bin Munawar.
Sirbaz Khan is recognized as the first Pakistani to scale all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, while Sajid Ali Sadpara became the first Pakistani to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen.
The Pakistani mountaineering community and sports enthusiasts are now awaiting Ateeque’s safe descent to Everest Base Camp after the successful summit.
