Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed strong confidence that Pakistan’s astronaut candidates Khurram Dawood and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali will help write a new chapter in the nation’s history as they depart for advanced space training in China.
The prime minister met the two candidates in Islamabad ahead of their departure and described their selection for a space research mission as a major national milestone and a moment of pride for Pakistan.
“A historic moment for Pakistan”
Shehbaz Sharif said he was pleased to meet the young astronaut candidates along with astronaut attaché Hasnain Iftikhar, calling their journey the result of hard work, discipline, and dedication.
He said the mission, being carried out with Chinese cooperation, reflects the deepening partnership between Pakistan and China, particularly in advanced scientific and technological fields.
According to the prime minister, collaboration in space research shows that Pakistan-China friendship is entering a new phase, marked by innovation, research, and shared achievements beyond Earth.
High-level meeting underscores national importance
The meeting was attended by senior members of the federal cabinet, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, and Muhammad Yousaf Khan, Chairman of SUPARCO.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets Pakistani Astronauts in Islamabad on 23 April, 2026. pic.twitter.com/uUepVJdqbA
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) April 23, 2026
China’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, was also present and welcomed the prime minister’s remarks, describing bilateral cooperation in space exploration as encouraging and forward-looking.
Astronauts vow dedication
Speaking during the meeting, Khurram Dawood and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali said it was a great honour to represent Pakistan in an international space research programme. They pledged to work with full commitment to meet the expectations of the nation and contribute meaningfully to Pakistan’s scientific progress.
Pakistan’s human space mission advances
Earlier, Pakistan’s human spaceflight ambitions took a major step forward with the departure of the two candidates for advanced astronaut training in China.
The programme is part of SUPARCO’s human space mission, which aims to prepare Pakistan’s first astronauts for a future spaceflight later this year.
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According to officials, the astronauts are expected to participate in scientific experiments in space, marking Pakistan’s formal entry into human space exploration.
A milestone in science and diplomacy
The mission is widely seen as both a scientific breakthrough and a symbol of strategic Pakistan-China cooperation, reinforcing ties in high-technology domains.
As preparations continue, the departure of Pakistan’s first astronaut candidates represents a defining moment in the country’s space journey — one that could reshape its role in regional and global space research.
