Pakistani mountaineer Samina Baig has been forced to abandon the K2 expedition – the world’s second highest mountain – because of breathing problems, rescuers said on Saturday.

Samina, the first Pakistani woman to scale the world’s highest peak, had reached the base camp to lead a six-member team comprising Italian and Pakistan climbers as part of platinum jubilee celebrations of the first ascent of K2. But she suddenly fell ill, forcing her to abandon the expedition and return.

The initiative to conquer K2 this year was undertaken by EvK2CNR, in collaboration with the Italian Alpine Club, in May. Around four women mountaineers from Pakistan were chosen to join the expedition team.

Italian climbers Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni climbed the K2 on July 31, 1954, via the Abruzzi Spur. It is now the standard summit route on the Pakistani side of the mountain, according to National Geographic. Ardito Desio led the expedition. It also included Pakistani colonel Muhammad Ataullah, Hunza porter Amir Mehdi, and prominent climber Walter Bonatti, a report said.

She was photographed riding a horse as climbers and porters took her to a safe location. Rescuers requested prayers for her early recovery.

On May 19, 2013, Samina made history by becoming the first Pakistani woman to summit Mount Everest.

In 2022, she again created history by climbing K2 along with her team.

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Samina, who comes from the village of Shimshal in Hunza valley, also holds the unique record of being the first Pakistani among men and women to climb seven summits on seven continents.

Pakistan is home to five of the world’s 14 mountains higher than 8,000 metres – including K2, the world’s second highest.

In 2013, more than 8,900 foreigners visited the remote Gilgit-Baltistan region, according to government figures, where most of the Karakoram range is located, with the summer climbing season running from early June to late August.