A promising mountaineer from Shimshal lost his life after a fatal fall during ice climbing in the Khyber area of Gojal, Hunza, on Saturday.
Officials said Shah Daulat, 31, a native of Shimshal, was practising ice climbing on a frozen mountain wall in Khyber village alongside a foreign climber. The site forms a steep ice face during the winter months and is often used for training.
The incident occurred on Friday evening when Shah Daulat reportedly lost his footing on the ice and plunged nearly 400 metres. He sustained critical injuries and died instantly at the scene.
Local volunteers later retrieved his body and transported it to a government hospital in Sost, close to the Pakistan–China border near the Khunjerab Pass. On Saturday, the body was sent to his hometown of Shimshal for burial.
Shah Daulat was widely regarded as one of Shimshal’s most accomplished young climbers. He had successfully scaled four of the world’s eight-thousand-metre peaks, including K2 (8,611 metres), Nanga Parbat (8,126 metres), Gasherbrum-II (8,035 metres) and Gasherbrum-I (8,080 metres).
In 2025, he earned widespread recognition after summiting Gasherbrum-I without the use of supplementary oxygen — a rare achievement that highlighted his strength and endurance as a high-altitude climber.
He was also a close relative of renowned Pakistani mountaineer Samina Baig and had accompanied her during her K2 expedition in 2022.
Expressing her grief in a post on her official Facebook page, Samina Baig described Shah Daulat as a beloved family member whose passing had left a deep void. She said he had accomplished remarkable feats at a young age and would always be remembered for his courage, humility and love for the mountains.
The mountaineering community, along with politicians and members of civil society, mourned his death and paid tribute to his achievements. Trekker and biker Ammara Sharif said she was heartbroken by the loss, adding that Shah Daulat’s passion, bravery and legacy would continue to inspire others despite his untimely death.