What happened
The Pakistani mountaineer Sajid Ali Sadpara summited Mount Makalu (8,485 metres) in Nepal without supplementary oxygen, the expedition’s organisers said on Sunday, according to Dawn on 3 May 2026.
A statement issued by Seven Summit Treks, the expedition team Sadpara was part of, said an excellent summit push at 5am on 2 May successfully reached the summit of Makalu. The team of three members, including Sadpara from Pakistan and Johannss Lau, along with seven sherpas, stood on the summit of the technically demanding peak, the organisers said.
Sadpara is on a mission to summit all 14 “eight-thousanders” without supplemental oxygen, and the Makalu climb marks his tenth summit of that mission. He had arrived in Nepal on 4 April, reached Makalu base camp on 16 April and completed the team’s summit rotation at Makalu on 25 April.
Why it matters
Sadpara is the son of the mountaineer Muhammad Ali Sadpara, who lost his life during a winter ascent of K2 in 2021. The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) and fellow climbers congratulated him on the summit.
ACP President Irfan Arshad said summiting one of the world’s most technically challenging peaks reflected Sadpara’s courage, determination and skill, calling it a proud moment for the Pakistani mountaineering community. ACP Vice President Karrar Haidri noted that at 29 years old Sadpara had shown remarkable endurance, resilience and dedication to high-altitude mountaineering.
According to Dawn, Sadpara has already summited nine peaks above 8,000 metres, including Everest, K2, Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II and Dhaulagiri. He has climbed K2 twice, once without supplemental oxygen, and set records by summiting both Gasherbrum-I and Gasherbrum-II in three days and 18 hours without supplementary oxygen.
What is still uncertain
The organisers’ statement gave no account of conditions during the descent beyond wishing the team a safe return to base camp, and no independent confirmation of the summit was available in the report. It has not been announced when Sadpara will attempt the remaining peaks in his 14-eight-thousanders mission.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a synthesis of published material, not eyewitness reporting. Sources were reviewed on 2026-05-03.
- Primary source — Dawn: “Sajid Sadpara summits world's 5th highest mountain Makalu without supplemental oxygen”3 May 2026 · Reports the Seven Summit Treks statement, the summit timing, Sadpara's record and the reaction from the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
