ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has appointed Qatari princess and renowned mountaineer Sheikha Asma Al Thani as its brand ambassador for mountains and tourism, following her successful summit of Nanga Parbat — the ninth-highest peak in the world and one of the most treacherous climbs on Earth.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made the announcement on Tuesday, commending Sheikha Asma’s extraordinary achievement in scaling the 8,126-metre-high Nanga Parbat, located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan.
In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister wrote, “I am pleased to appoint Her Highness Sheikha Asma Al Thani as the Brand Ambassador for Pakistan’s mountains and tourism. My heartfelt felicitations to Her Highness on her recent feat of scaling Nanga Parbat. It is truly inspiring.”
The premier added that her remarkable ascent “sends a powerful message of courage and determination” and “stands as a testament to the enduring friendship between Pakistan and Qatar.”
🇵🇰 Majestic mountain ⛰️ calling!
I am pleased to appoint Her Highness Sheikha Asma Al Thani as the Brand Ambassador for Pakistan’s Mountains and Tourism.
My heartfelt felicitations to Her Highness on her recent feat of scaling Nanga Parbat. It is truly inspiring!
Her…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 8, 2025
Sheikha Asma, who shared her experience on Instagram, described the climb as one of the most difficult of her career.
“My ninth 8000er and one of the toughest climbs I’ve faced,” she wrote. “This mountain tested me in ways I didn’t expect, from black ice beneath my feet to rockfall every few seconds. A constant reminder of how fragile life truly is.”
Despite the extreme conditions, she reflected on the deeper personal significance of the climb.
“There was surrender and there was strength I didn’t know I still had. I climb not just to reach summits but to return to what matters, to strip away the noise and reconnect with myself. This mountain will stay with me forever.”
Sheikha Asma hoisted Qatar’s national flag at the summit, becoming the first Qatari woman to do so.
View this post on Instagram
A trailblazer in the mountaineering world, Sheikha Asma is the first Qatari woman to climb Everest, K2, Manaslu, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam.
She is also the first Qatari to ski to the North Pole. Notably, she became the first Arab to summit an eight-thousander without supplemental oxygen during her ascent of Manaslu.
In May 2024, she cemented her mountaineering legacy by climbing Lhotse for the second time without supplemental oxygen, becoming the first Arab to scale two 8000-metre peaks under such conditions.
Nanga Parbat, often referred to as the “Killer Mountain” due to its deadly record, has historically posed extreme challenges for climbers owing to its severe weather, avalanches, and complex terrain.
