Pakistan Celebrates Selection of Two Astronauts for China's Space Program
ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday congratulated two Pakistani astronaut candidates selected for China's manned space program, expressing hope that the voyage will "usher in a new era of space research in Pakistan," according to a statement from his office.
The two candidates, Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, met with Sharif at the Prime Minister's House, where the premier described the mission as a "matter of pride for the entire nation" and commended their "round-the-clock efforts" in achieving the milestone, the statement said.
China announced a day earlier that it had selected two Pakistanis as candidates for its space program. Both will travel to China for training, and one will join a space flight mission as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut to board China's Tiangong space station, according to state media reports.
Cooperation Agreement
The selection follows a cooperation agreement signed in February 2025 between Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission and the China Manned Space Agency. Under the pact, two Pakistanis were to train in China, with one joining a mission on the Tiangong space station.
China Daily reported that Ali and Daud had passed multiple rounds of selection procedures and would soon visit China for spaceflight training.
Official Reactions
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong attended the meeting with the prime minister. Sharif told the ambassador that the mission would "add new dimensions to the brotherly relationship between Pakistan and China," and that the two nations' friendship was "ready to reach for the stars and touch the heights of the sky," according to the PMO statement.
The PMO cited the astronaut candidates as saying: "Performing research duties in space for Pakistan is a source of honour, a unique privilege, and a matter of pride," and that they hoped to "make every possible effort to live up to the nation's hopes."
China's Perspective
The China Manned Space Agency has described the selection as a "landmark event in the history of China's space industry," according to Dawn, and cited the Pakistani candidates' participation as an example of Beijing's "willingness to share its space development achievements with the international community."
Context and Significance
China has been barred from participating in the International Space Station since 2011, when the United States prohibited NASA from collaborating with Chinese space agencies. The Tiangong space station, which China has built independently, represents an alternative platform for international cooperation in space.
An editorial in Dawn, a Pakistani newspaper, called the development "highly commendable" and expressed hope that it would kindle interest among younger Pakistanis in astronomy and astrophysics. The editorial also praised China for "welcoming Pakistan's space aspirations."
Looking Ahead
The two candidates are expected to begin training in China soon. The mission timeline for the payload specialist's flight has not been announced. Observers in Pakistan say the achievement could inspire a new generation of scientists and strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.