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GILGIT: Six Pakistani and two foreign climbers scaled Gasherbrum-I, the 11th highest mountain in the world at 8,080 metres above sea level, on Friday morning.
Led by Sirbaz Khan, mountaineers Naila Kiani, Shehroze Kashif, Sajid Sadpara, Sohail Sakhi and Imtiaz Sadpara summited the peak, Alpine Club of Pakistan secretary Karar Haidri said. The foreign climbers included Sanu Sherpa from Nepal and Naoko Watanabe from Japan.
Gasherbrum-I, surveyed K5, is also known as Hidden Peak as it lies in one of the most challenging terrains and is surrounded by some of the highest peaks.
Pakistan is home to five of the 14 eight-thousanders in the world, including K2 (ranked second at 8,611 metres), Nanga Parbat (ninth at 8,126 metres), Gasherbrum-I (11th at 8,080 metres), Broad Peak (12th at 8,051 metres), and Gasherbrum-II (13th at 8,035 metres).
According to the expedition, Sajid Sadpara achieved the ascent without supplemental oxygen, whereas Sirbaz Khan has now summited 12 eight-thousanders.
Besides, Shehroze Kashif has become the youngest mountaineer in the world to have summited 10 peaks above 8,000 metres.
According to his official Facebook page, Mr Kashif has safely descended to Camp 1 of Gasherbrum-I after having scaled it at around 4am on Friday.