Pakistan will send two astronauts to China for training, becoming the first foreign country to join Beijing’s space station programme, said SUPARCO Director Shafaat Ali.
Speaking to a private news channel, he said the selection would be purely on merit. Candidates include PhD holders, experienced pilots, and highly qualified graduates who meet strict physical standards.
Under an agreement signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit, Pakistan and China have agreed to collaborate on astronaut training. Shafaat Ali called it a major achievement that strengthens Pakistan-China friendship, as China had previously limited this training to its own citizens.
He said the astronaut selection process will be completed by 2026. A three-stage selection will ensure only the most deserving candidates make the final list.
The mission will focus on advanced research in multiple areas such as biology, medicine, aerospace, fluid mechanics, space radiation, ecology, material sciences, astronomy, and microgravity studies, he added.
He thanked the Prime Minister and the Chinese government for this historic opportunity, calling it a significant leap forward for Pakistan’s space programme.