BEIJING: In a historic move for Pakistan’s space ambitions, China has announced plans to send a Pakistani astronaut on a short-term mission aboard its Tiangong Space Station, state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday.
Two Pakistani astronauts will undergo training alongside Chinese astronauts, and one of them will be selected to participate in a short-duration spaceflight mission as a payload specialist, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference on Thursday pic.twitter.com/dVSp6TlbHz
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) October 30, 2025
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the Pakistani astronaut will undergo training alongside Chinese astronauts before joining one of the upcoming manned missions. The astronaut will not only take part in regular crew duties but will also conduct scientific experiments on behalf of Pakistan, reported China’s Global Times.
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This milestone follows a cooperation agreement signed in March between Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and the CMSA, paving the way for Pakistan’s first-ever manned space mission.
China is currently selecting astronauts from Pakistan, with one expected to take part in a short-duration space mission at an appropriate time, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/hRwor7C14Y
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) October 30, 2025
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier hailed the agreement as “another wonderful gesture” from Beijing, calling it a reflection of the two nations’ “deepening cooperation in space exploration.” In April, the premier reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing space technology, describing China as the country’s “most reliable and strategic partner.”
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The mission marks a major step forward in Pakistan-China scientific collaboration, enhancing Islamabad’s participation in global space research and reinforcing the countries’ long-standing strategic partnership.