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The 19- year old Shehroze Kashif became the youngest Pakistani mountaineer to reach the summit of world’s tallest Mount Everest — 8,848.86 metres —in Nepal on Tuesday.
In an update on Facebook, Nepalese mountaineer and the expedition manager of Seven Summit Treks, Chhang Dawa Sherpa, congratulated Kashif for becoming the youngest Pakistani to climb Mount Everest. “This morning Kashif successfully climbed the Mt. Everest as a part of Seven Summit Treks — Everest Expedition 2021,” he wrote.
An update on Kashif’s Facebook page said, “ALHAMDULILLAH ALHAMDULILLAH. Received the text confirmation from Shehroze Kashif. History has been made !!!!!!!!! Ma Sha Allah Shehroze has summited Everest.”
Hailing from Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore, Kashif is also the youngest Pakistani to have climbed Broad Peak (8,047m) at the age of 17. He used supplemental oxygen on his climbs to Broad Peak and Everest.
Earlier, Samina Baig, the first Pakistani woman on Everest, was also the youngest Pakistani, at the age of 23, to reach the summit of the tallest 8,000er in the world, English newspaper, Daily Dawn reported.
Kashif’s interest in trekking developed at a young age after he accompanied his father on an outdoor trip.
In a TV interview, the young climber said that long before he reached his first summit, he was fascinated by the idea of what was at the top. “Whatever I had imagined was not there at the top. However, when I reached the top, I felt pride that I have achieved something,” he said.
Kashif spent well over a month acclimatising at the Everest base camp in Himalayan kingdom of Nepal while keeping his fans updated via social media.
In another TV interview in February, he spoke in detail about climbing, fitness, and the finances required for achieving big goals.
“There is no comparison between the training levels of a cricketer and a mountaineer. Sometimes, we have to climb for 26-hours in one go,” he said.
“The strongest thing in the world is the human mind, you cannot beat it. If your brain stops working at a higher altitude, that’s a big thing. You have to train yourself for those conditions,” Kashif went on to say while sharing his fitness routine and its importance in decision-making at heights. “Mountaineering doesn’t ask for compromise, mountaineering asks for sacrifice.”
Kashif went on to add that the Everest expedition cost him Rs10 million, with no sponsorship from the government or the private sector.
In the same interview, Kashif said that he wants to form a team with Sajid Sadpara — the youngest person in the world to summit K2 at the age of 20 — and climb all the 14 8,000m peaks. However, he quickly pointed out that this would require patronage and sponsorship for the young mountaineers. If the government can give 10m to each cricketer, it can do anything, he told the shocked anchor.
The Lahori teen’s first climb was at the age of 11 when he trekked to the 3,885m Makra Peak, followed by Musa Ka Musalla, a 4,080m peak.
Continuing to train for longer and harder treks, he did the Gondogor La K2 Base Camp trek at the age of 14 and at 15 was able to complete the Khurdo Pin Pass (5,800m) trek. At 18, he did Khusar Gang, a 6,050m peak Alpine style.
In a video message , Sheroze’s father Kashif Abbas expressed his jubilation over this feat.
“He has been doing all these treks and climbs on his own. In fact, when he got to the Everest base camp, we found out how things could go wrong during the expedition,” said Kashif Abbas.
He shared that neither he nor his other three sons had any interest in trekking or mountaineering.
“On his first trek, I had asked the guide to take him to the top and from then onwards Shehroze went to all trips on his own.
“So far I have supported Shahroze and the response to his success is overwhelming. Probably after Mohammad Ali Sadpara, he is the most famous Pakistani climber,” the beaming father said.
Meanwhile, Punjab government has appointed Shehroze as a goodwill ambassador.
