Govt Proposes Rs. 1.29 Billion Fund to Send Pakistani Astronaut Into Space

Pakistan’s ambition to send one of its citizens into space received a fresh boost as the government proposed an allocation of Rs. 1.29 billion for the Pakistan Manned Space Mission in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for 2026-27.

Budget documents show the project carries a total approved cost of Rs. 2.19 billion.

An estimated Rs. 900 million is expected to have been spent by June 30, 2026, while Rs. 1.29 billion has been proposed for the next fiscal year to continue work on the landmark initiative.

The human spaceflight program forms part of a broader expansion of national space capabilities under the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which is simultaneously pursuing satellite, lunar exploration, deep space observation and space infrastructure projects.

The manned mission is among several major ongoing schemes being implemented by the national space agency.

The project gained momentum in February 2025 when Pakistan and China signed a landmark astronaut cooperation agreement under which Pakistani astronauts would be selected and trained for future missions aboard China’s Tiangong Space Station.

Progress has accelerated over the past year. Two Pakistani astronaut candidates were shortlisted after undergoing medical, psychological and aptitude assessments in China and are now set to receive advanced astronaut training.

Following the training program, one candidate is expected to participate in a mission to the Chinese space station, potentially becoming the first Pakistani citizen to travel into space.

While the proposed allocation may appear modest when compared with the budgets of major international space agencies, its interesting that Pakistan continues to dedicate public funds to a human spaceflight program at a time when development spending is under intense strain.