Scaling new heights

Tabinda Siddiqi Published June 24, 2011

Nazia Parveen first experimented with rock climbing on a field trip with her university – little did she know that just after a year she would be the face of The Adventure Club Pakistan and a champion for females in a country which is ranked as the third most dangerous for women according to a Thomson Reuters Foundation poll.

A student of Defence and Diplomatic Studies, Parveen’s climbing career spans over a year only but her hard work, dedication and determination have led her beyond her competitors — Nazia Parveen first experimented with rock climbing on a field trip with her university – little did she know that just after a year she would be the face of The Adventure Club Pakistan and a champion for females in a country which is ranked as the third most dangerous for women according to a Thomson Reuters Foundation poll. A student of Defence and Diplomatic Studies, Parveen’s climbing career spans over a year only but her hard work, dedication and determination have led her beyond her competitors

Talking to Dawn.com, Parveen says that she never took climbing lessons or had any form of training before.

“My hostel took us on a field trip and there I had the opportunity to try out rock climbing. I instantly liked it very much and have been a regular climber ever since.”

After starting climbing in March 2010, she won her first competition in October 2010 on an artificial rock wall. Just two months later, she won another wall climbing competition held on International Mountain Day. — Talking to Dawn.com, Parveen says that she never took climbing lessons or had any form of training before. “My hostel took us on a field trip and there I had the opportunity to try out rock climbing. I instantly liked it very much and have been a regular climber ever since.” After starting climbing in March 2010, she won her first competition in October 2010 on an artificial rock wall. Just two months later, she won another wall climbing competition held on International Mountain Day.

After participating in a competition on International Women’s Day in 2010, Parveen immediately realized that rock climbing was becoming her favorite past time and to learn it properly, she must join a proper club. She became a member of The Adventure Club Pakistan and started focusing on regular training.

Being a female, there were some hurdles in the way of regular rock climbing for Parveen. However, the 23-year-old is indebted to her class and hostel fellows, who occasionally joined her for the climbing sessions which made it relatively easier. Parveen also says that she is highly grateful to the Club for all the support extended to her.

More recently, in February, she participated in the Chenab Rock Climbing Competition and set a record by beating her competition by a lead that was twelve times greater.

Incidentally, she also holds the record for climbing with the best time in a male/female category – the first time a female achieved this by defeating male competitors as well.

In March 2011, she participated in the 5th Pakistan Open Climbing Competition which was an event at the national level. She won the competition — More recently, in February, she participated in the Chenab Rock Climbing Competition and set a record by beating her competition by a lead that was twelve times greater. Incidentally, she also holds the record for climbing with the best time in a male/female category – the first time a female achieved this by defeating male competitors as well. In March 2011, she participated in the 5th Pakistan Open Climbing Competition which was an event at the national level. She won the competition

Parveen says that she foresees a good future for climbing as it’s gaining popularity in the country.

“In the last competition, there were more than 100 girls in this activity. We are confident competing anywhere with more training. My fellow climbers Ayesha and Mehnaz are superb while we have a good number of young climbers behind us like Anisa, Palwasha, Aleeza, Hamna and Rushna so I feel that we are headed in the right direction and will perform well for Pakistan in the future,” she says. — Parveen says that she foresees a good future for climbing as it’s gaining popularity in the country. “In the last competition, there were more than 100 girls in this activity. We are confident competing anywhere with more training. My fellow climbers Ayesha and Mehnaz are superb while we have a good number of young climbers behind us like Anisa, Palwasha, Aleeza, Hamna and Rushna so I feel that we are headed in the right direction and will perform well for Pakistan in the future,” she says.

This was quite an achievement for Parveen (pictured here with former British Climbing Champion Anne Arran) as some of the participants in the competition had held various distinctions in the climbing circuit over the past years.

After winning five competitions in a row, she was made Junior Instructor for Rock Climbing of the Women’s Chapter at the Club so she could impart her experience to the beginners. The Club is now making arrangements for her and other members to get advanced training at national — This was quite an achievement for Parveen (pictured here with former British Climbing Champion Anne Arran) as some of the participants in the competition had held various distinctions in the climbing circuit over the past years. After winning five competitions in a row, she was made Junior Instructor for Rock Climbing of the Women’s Chapter at the Club so she could impart her experience to the beginners. The Club is now making arrangements for her and other members to get advanced training at national

“We expect that she will win more honours and distinctions for the Club and for the country in the future,” Tahir Imran Khan, the President of the club said of the Rawalpindi native.

When asked if she faces any hardships being a woman in a field where men usually venture, shes says that she has faced no such issues.

“After setting the few records that I have set, I no longer feel uncomfortable being a female rock climber.” — When asked if she faces any hardships being a woman in a field where men usually venture, shes says that she has faced no such issues. “After setting the few records that I have set, I no longer feel uncomfortable being a female rock climber.”

Talking about ways to promote such sports in Pakistan, Nazia says that the most important thing is to give them proper recognition as that will also get sponsors to come forward and show support.

“Rock climbing should be included in the games listed by the Pakistan Sports Board and they should also try to arrange coaching camps and training programs for those who are interested,” she says. — Talking about ways to promote such sports in Pakistan, Nazia says that the most important thing is to give them proper recognition as that will also get sponsors to come forward and show support. “Rock climbing should be included in the games listed by the Pakistan Sports Board and they should also try to arrange coaching camps and training programs for those who are interested,” she says.

Other than rock climbing, she is also takes an active interest in paragliding and is also undertaking training for that.

“About other adventure sports, recently I have completed the first part of the Elementary Paragliding Pilot Course. It was great fun and I am expecting that people in Pakistan, especially women, will go further in Paragliding and other extreme sports as well, if given a chance.” — Other than rock climbing, she is also takes an active interest in paragliding and is also undertaking training for that. “About other adventure sports, recently I have completed the first part of the Elementary Paragliding Pilot Course. It was great fun and I am expecting that people in Pakistan, especially women, will go further in Paragliding and other extreme sports as well, if given a chance.”

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Nazia Parveen's first experience with rock climbing came through a field trip. Just a year later, she is credited with setting various records in the sport and is looking forward with a mission to raise the profile of rock climbing in Pakistan. - Text by Tabinda Najam Siddiqi, photos courtesy Nazia Parveen.

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Comments (10) Closed

M.Zaheen

Jun 24, 2011 04:03pm

Nazia , you have done a marvelous job to promote the sport , keep the good work up , the note below teh picture does't tell much about your records , your record as well as the sport must must be brought into public knowledge for greater impact.

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Absar

Jun 24, 2011 05:27pm

This is something inspirational stuff, Not that i 'll start doing the same with my lethargic persona, I second Zaheen, if you have made such an amazing records like beating the record time even of men than it should be publicize and let the feminists horde enjoy the music

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Agha Ata USA

Jun 24, 2011 07:13pm

Great Beautiful! Inspiring!

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Sameer

Jun 24, 2011 10:30pm

Salaam from United States, Reading this has made me very very excited about the future of rock climbing in Pakistan. I'm a climber (trad, boulder, sport, top rope) and know that Pakistan has the potential to be #1 destination for rock climbers. I will be in Pakistan in August/Spetember to climb. I would love to connect with you guys and share my experience along with some tips on improving phsyical fitness. Please let me know how I can connect with you. Climb on! Sameer

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SherShah Suri

Jun 25, 2011 01:19am

This is the kind of Pakistan we want!

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Hasham

Jun 25, 2011 02:23am

Great job Nazia!!

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Shujaat Ayub Khan

Jun 25, 2011 02:48am

Way to go Nazia and rest of the girls. Bravo . People like you make Pakistan proud .

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Inam

Jun 25, 2011 01:16pm

Respect. This woman is a bringing about two positive revolutions: moving women forward in a male-dominated sport, and exposing the natural outdoor wonders of Pakistan. I never realized till now that rock climbing was catching up back home. Hope it's also progressed beyond mere sport climbing into the more exploratory trad climbing. Again, respect.

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rabia

Jun 28, 2011 02:53pm

dear mr. sameer, all u have have to do is get connected to the adventure club pakistan. mr. tahir imran khan is doing a great job by encouraging all young girls and guys to participate in very healthy activities like rock climbing, hiking, ice-climbing etc. nazia is also one of his explorations=p n many other girls and guys like us are also a part of his club.

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fan

Jun 28, 2011 09:44pm

Thank you Dawn for showing us this side of Pakistan - this is like a breath of fresh air after the daily deluge of bomb blasts, govt. inadequacies and other negative things we get to hear about on the news. Keep up the good work!

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