Pakistan’s First Astronaut Will Fly to Space on November 25

Pakistan's first astronaut will embark on a space journey on November 25 with the support of China, according to Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal. This significant milestone for the nation's space program was announced during the closing ceremony of World Space Week in Narowal. Iqbal highlighted China's cooperation in sending Pakistani astronauts to space, stating, "With China's cooperation, Pakistan will reach new heights in the field of space research."

Iqbal unveiled Pakistan's ambition to land on the moon by 2035, emphasizing the importance of satellite technology as a critical technology for the country and the world. He also pointed out that the nation's national security is linked to satellite technology. Iqbal warned that if Pakistan does not invest in space research, it will fall behind in the global development race.

The minister urged young people to nurture curiosity and ask questions to drive knowledge and research. Pakistan has set a target of reopening the University of Narowal's center for advanced technology and emerging sciences, which was inactive under the previous administration. Additionally, construction of Pakistan's first space museum at the university is underway with the necessary resources.

Two Pakistani pilots, Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, are undergoing training at China's Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing. They will join China's Tiangong space station as part of a broader space cooperation between Pakistan and China. One of the pilots will become the country's first astronaut to travel to space, conducting Pakistani scientific experiments for a week on the Tiangong space station.