Pakistan Plans Lunar Mission by 2035

Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal announced that the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has been directed to prepare for a lunar mission by 2035, marking a major step in the nation’s space exploration ambitions, Geo News reported.

Speaking in Beijing during a high-level meeting with Shan Zhongde, Chairman of China’s Atomic Energy Authority and Space Agency, Iqbal discussed strengthening cooperation in space and nuclear energy to support Pakistan’s development goals.

Under the Uraan Pakistan program, space sciences have received renewed attention under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Iqbal noted that Pakistan recently launched three satellites in partnership with China and is planning to send its first astronaut to the Chinese space station by 2026.

Addressing climate change concerns, the minister stressed the importance of diversifying into alternative energy sources to protect food, water, and health security. He urged closer collaboration with China in peaceful nuclear energy and emerging technologies such as quantum computing, citing the K-2, K-3, and C-5 nuclear plants as successful examples of bilateral cooperation.

He also shared that Pakistan has set up a Quantum Computing Center and is aligning science and technology with its economic priorities. Iqbal called for more educational opportunities for Pakistani scientists through Chinese exchange programs, highlighting the transformative impact of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Pakistan’s infrastructure and energy sectors.

Chairman Shan Zhongde praised Pakistan’s progress under CPEC and reaffirmed China’s commitment to advancing Pakistan’s space research and peaceful nuclear energy capabilities, pledging to further enhance strategic and economic collaboration.