ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday said the whole nation was proud of the young woman mountaineer Samina Baig for her historic achievement to summit the world's highest Mount Everest and also for introducing Pakistani women as a symbol of talent and great potential.

The President was speaking to the two young Pakistani mountaineers from Gilgit Baltistan, Samina Baig and her brother Mirza Ali who along with Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr here. President Zardari's daughter Aseefa Bhutto Zardari was also present

The President congratulated Samina Baig for becoming the first Pakistani women to scale Mount Everest.

Lauding the will and determination of Samina Baig, the President said the young mountaineer had made the nation proud and had earned laurels for the country.

The President expressed confidence that Samina Baig would act as a role model for the women of the country and would continue to work hard and keep the flag of Pakistan flying high in the field of mountaineering.