Renowned mountaineer Samina Baig has achieved another historic milestone by becoming the first Pakistani to ski to the South Pole.
Baig was part of an international expedition organised by Elite Exped, which departed from Pakistan on December 2. The team reached Union Glacier on December 6, and Baig successfully completed her ski journey to the South Pole on December 14.
In a Facebook post, Baig said she felt “deeply grateful and humbled” after reaching the final degree of the South Pole, describing the achievement as part of her quest to complete the prestigious Explorer’s Grand Slam.
“This ski journey has never been accomplished by any Pakistani before. It has been one of the most challenging and meaningful experiences of my life, and it is still difficult to put into words,” she wrote.
Reflecting on her journey, Baig highlighted her achievements spanning more than a decade — from summiting Mount Everest in 2013 and completing the Seven Summits, to climbing K2 and Nanga Parbat, and now reaching one of the most remote places on Earth.
“Every step has taught me patience, resilience, and the power of belief,” she said, adding that the expedition was about trusting the dream, remaining committed through uncertainty, and moving forward even when the path seemed impossible.
Baig expressed hope that her accomplishment would inspire others, particularly women, to pursue their dreams regardless of the challenges involved. She said carrying the Pakistani flag and her Ismaili flag across mountains, continents, and polar ice had been the greatest honour of her life.
She also thanked members of her community for funding the expedition and acknowledged the support of her team, family, fellow climber Nirmal Purja, and Elite Expeditions, saying the journey would not have been possible without their encouragement and trust.
Hailing from the remote village of Shimshal, Baig became the first Pakistani woman to scale Mount Everest in 2013. She is also the first Pakistani to complete the Seven Summits - Everest, Kilimanjaro, McKinley (Denali), Mont Blanc, Elbrus, Aconcagua, Vinson, and Puncak Jaya.
In 2010, she climbed the virgin peak Chashkin Sar, later named Samina Peak, and in 2011 conquered another previously unclimbed summit named Koh-i-Brobar (Mount Equality). In 2023, Baig and Naila Kiani became the first Pakistani women to summit Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninth-highest mountain, while in 2022 she successfully summited K2 with her team.
