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.
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