Samina Baig gets standing ovation at AdAsia

Participants of AdAsia 2019 extended a standing ovation to Pakistani mountaineer Samina Khayal Baig on the second day of the gathering at Alhamra Art Council on Wednesday.

Delegates from all over the world were highly impressed by the success story of proud Pakistani mountaineer and the hall burst into claps when she said: "I have climbed mountains to prove that Pakistani women are not weak. They are equally strong, full of passion and ready to take on challenges of life." The theme of her talk was: "No mountain too easy nor too high."

Samina Khayal Baig is the first and only Pakistani high-altitude mountaineer who in 2013 climbed Mount Everest and then all Seven Summits by 2014. She is also the youngest Muslim woman to climb Mount Everest, having done so at the age of 21. Samina was the first to climb the peak Chashkin Sar (above 6,000 meters) in Pakistan in 2010, which was later, renamed Samina Peak. She reached the summit of 'Koh-i-Brobar' (Mount Equality) in 2011. An attempt at the seven-kilometer high Spantik Peak ended in failure for Baig due to adverse weather conditions.

She further recalled that not a single newspaper bothered to publish her press conference when she announced to climb Mount Everest. "So much so, a reporter came to me after the press conference to express his doubts by stating that how can I climb a mountain when my physique suggests that I cannot even take stairs to the top," she said in a simple tone that led to a burst of laughter on the part of her listeners.

Hundreds of delegates from all over the world and Pakistan are attending the three-day event which is taking place in the city after a lapse of 30 years. The theme for the congress is "Celebrasian: Celebration of Advertising and Creativity in Asia." President Dr Arif Ali is due to conclude the mega event today (Thursday). Among others who spoke on the second day of the conference included Global Executive Director for South-East Asia, JWT Guan Hin Tay, Chief Knowledge Officer AFAA Bharat Avalani, former Director Commercial of Manchester United Vange Kourentis, photographer and adventurer Cory Richards, Secretary AFAA James Selva, former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, CEO World Services, M&C Saatchi Marcus Peffers, founder of Global Sustainability Network Raza Jafar and Global marketer and new business developer Wille Eerola.

A panel discussion was also a special feature of the second day which was moderated by Ms Atifa Silk and the panelists included Managing Director & CEO English Biscuit Manufacturer Dr Zeelaf Munir, CEO Catwalk Productions Ms Fareeha Altaf, CEO Bond Advertising Seema Jaffer and Stylish and Entrepreneur Nabia.

The audience also took a special interest in the presentation of former Director Commercial of Manchester United Vange Kourentis who spoke on the topic of building a global cult brand over generations. He suggested the audience to acknowledge the fans of their brands in order to build a global cult brand over generations. The audience kept throwing innovative questions to guest speakers during the allotted time slot at the end of each presentation.