Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed confidence that Pakistani astronaut candidates Khurram Dawood and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali will write a new chapter in the country’s history as they were set to depart for China for advanced training.
The prime minister met the two candidates in Islamabad and said he was pleased to meet the young astronauts and the astronaut attaché, Hasnain Iftikhar. He termed their participation in a space research mission as an important milestone for Pakistan and a matter of pride for the entire nation.
He said he was confident that their efforts would mark a new chapter in Pakistan’s history, adding that their achievement reflected tireless dedication and hard work. He noted that the journey, facilitated through Chinese cooperation, would further strengthen fraternal ties between the two countries.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets Pakistani Astronauts in Islamabad on 23 April, 2026. pic.twitter.com/uUepVJdqbA
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) April 23, 2026
The prime minister said that Pakistan-China cooperation in space research showed that the friendship between the two nations was reaching new heights and moving towards further achievements.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch and Suparco Chairman Muhammad Yousaf Khan. China’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, was also present.
The Chinese envoy welcomed the prime minister’s remarks and described bilateral cooperation in space research as encouraging.
The astronaut candidates said it was an honour and a distinction to serve Pakistan in space research. They said they would strive with dedication to meet the expectations of the nation.
Earlier, Pakistan’s human space mission advanced with the departure of Khurram Dawood and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali for China for advanced training. The mission is regarded as a landmark for Pakistan’s space programme and a sign of close Pakistan-China cooperation.
Preparations are under way under Suparco's human space mission programme for Pakistan’s first astronauts to travel into space. The candidates are being prepared for a future spaceflight later this year, where they are expected to conduct scientific experiments. Their departure marks a significant step in Pakistan’s journey towards human spaceflight.
.jpg)
