Education is highest peak, every girl deserves chance to summit: Naila Kiani

Celebrated mountaineer Naila Kiani, recently appointed as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Girls' Education in Pakistan, emphasized the transformative power of education, likening it to the highest peak one can climb. In a telephonic interview with APP from Dubai, Kiani shared her journey from the narrow alleys of Rawalpindi to scaling some of the world's highest peaks, crediting her education as the key to her success.

Kiani’s mission as a goodwill ambassador is to inspire and advocate for educational reforms, particularly in underserved regions of Pakistan. She aims to focus on three key areas: advocacy, mentorship, and resource mobilization. These pillars, she believes, are crucial for transforming the educational landscape for girls in Pakistan.

"Climbing is just like achieving your dreams and each step, no matter how small, brings you closer to the top," Kiani explained, drawing a parallel between mountaineering and educational pursuits.

Kiani recounted how her own educational journey, which began at a federal public school in Rawalpindi and concluded with a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Queen Mary University in London, was fraught with challenges. She juggled night shifts with daytime studies, enduring sleepless nights for years to achieve her degree. Despite the hardships, she credits her education as the foundation for her mountaineering accomplishments.

"I dreamed of touching the sky. Education gave me the wings to reach those heights," she said, emphasizing that her greatest achievement was her education, which equipped her with the strength and resilience to pursue her dreams.

As a goodwill ambassador, Kiani plans to promote initiatives undertaken by the government, including IT, AI, and infrastructure development, while raising awareness about the importance of girls' education. She intends to inspire girls by sharing her educational journey and demonstrating how education can be a powerful tool for overcoming societal and economic barriers.

Kiani also stressed the importance of respecting cultural norms and practices when advocating for girls' education, noting that changing mindsets in regions resistant to girls' education is crucial. She believes in embedding education within the cultural framework of these areas to achieve lasting change.

"The most important thing is we should not go against the culture of the areas where we want to embed education," she emphasized.

In her role, Kiani is committed to making a meaningful contribution by inspiring and empowering girls to pursue education, thereby enabling them to reach their highest potential.