Pakistani mountaineer Salman Ateeque scales Mount Everest

Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistani mountaineer Salman Ateeque has achieved a major milestone by successfully reaching the top of Mount Everest on Thursday, becoming the 13th Pakistani climber to stand on the world’s highest point.

According to reports, Salman completed his summit push at approximately 11:39am Pakistan Standard Time during the ongoing 2026 Himalayan climbing season, which has seen a large influx of international climbers attempting various peaks in the region.

Officials and expedition-linked sources said this year around 464 climbing permits were issued to mountaineers from nearly 80 countries. Climbers from China and India formed the largest groups, while Ateeque was reportedly the only Pakistani participant granted an Everest permit for the season.

Ateeque brings a strong professional background outside mountaineering as well, having worked as an electrical engineer and spent more than 20 years in the telecommunications sector. Prior to this achievement, he had also successfully summited Mount Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest peak, last year.

According to people familiar with the expedition, he carefully passed through the perilous Khumbu Icefall and timed his final ascent during a stable weather window, which proved crucial for a safe summit attempt.

His success adds to Pakistan’s steadily expanding footprint in high-altitude mountaineering.

The first Pakistani climber to reach the Everest summit was Nazir Sabir in 2000, while Samina Baig made national history in 2013 by becoming the first Pakistani woman to achieve the same feat.

Over the years, several other Pakistani climbers have also conquered the peak, including 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.

Among these climbers, Sirbaz Khan is widely recognised as the first Pakistani to complete all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres, while Sajid Ali Sadpara earned distinction as the first from Pakistan to summit Everest without the use of supplemental oxygen.

As news of Ateeque’s achievement spreads, the climbing community and supporters back home are now anxiously awaiting his safe descent back to Everest Base Camp.