Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal met with Chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority and China’s Space Agency Shan Zhongde in Beijing today where he highlighted that Pakistan is set to send its first astronaut to the Chinese space station in 2026.
The meeting focused on aligning cooperation in nuclear energy and space research with broader national development goals.
The minister acknowledged that CPEC has played a vital role in removing bottlenecks in Pakistan’s infrastructure and energy sectors. He noted that collaboration between Pakistan and China in the nuclear energy sector continues to grow. The K-2, K-3, and C-5 nuclear power plants stand as shining examples of this strategic cooperation.
He said that under the leadership and vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s space program has gained new momentum.
Highlighting the “Uraan Pakistan” initiative, he said that special focus is being given to advancing space sciences. Recently, Pakistan successfully launched three satellites with China’s cooperation, he added.
He also shared that Pakistan’s space agency, SUPARCO, has been tasked with launching a lunar mission by 2035. He emphasized that Pakistan possesses a pool of highly skilled human resources at a relatively low cost, which China can benefit from by enhancing their capabilities through collaboration.
He said that Pakistan has established a Quantum Computing Center in response to emerging technological challenges. He stressed the importance of strengthening research partnership and knowledge exchange between CAEC, SUPARCO, and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, for the peaceful use of technology.
The minister noted that the government has initiated a national program to align science, technology, and engineering sectors with Pakistan’s development goals.
He further emphasized the need to expand opportunities for young Pakistani scientists to receive higher education in space technology through Chinese exchange programs.
Stay Connected with ProPakistani
Get the latest news and stories wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.

Tell ahsan iqbal to get medical check up. Everything he said was a lie.
Pakistan is not sending astronaut. China is being requested to send a pakistani person using a chinese rocket , using chinese launch site , using a chinese carrier to a chinese station in lower earth orbit.
Minister doesn’t even know which science is what. He’s a perfect example of dunning Krueger effect.
Quantum computing centre that doesn’t house any quantum computers. Does he effectively know what quantum science is ?
It would take billions to buy 1. There are no quantum sciences universities in pakistan nor anyone with experience in it.
Quantum computers don’t hate real world applications. Otherwise minister can tell us which model pakistan bought and used where ?
ایک ہی میں پرائم منسٹر کی vision کی سمجھ نہیں آنی ۔ ہر جگہ گھسی ھوتی ھے۔ اس وزیراعظم کی ویژن سے کیا تعلق ؟