First Pakistani will go into space in 2022: information minister

Cooperation with China will be sought for project

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said the country would send a human to space in 2022.

The minister added that it would be the success of the country's space programme. He added that Chinese assistance would be sought in this matter.

Earlier this year, Pakistan launched two indigenously built satellites into orbit, using a Chinese launch vehicle.

The satellites were launched onboard a Chinese Long March (LM-2C) rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre located at the Gobi desert, China.

One of the satellites launched was a remote sensing satellite (PRSS1) – a dual-purpose Earth observational and optical satellite. With the PRSS1, Pakistan has become one of the few countries to have its own remote sensing satellite in the orbit.

The second test satellite launched was a PAK-TES-1A, developed by Space and Upper Atmospheric Research Commission (Suparco) to enhance satellite manufacture capabilities in the country.

According to an official speaking on the condition of anonymity, it would help end the country’s dependency on commercial satellites for information related to weather, environment and agriculture.

The satellites were transported to China as the country lacks the infrastructure to launch objects, the official explained.