PM Shehbaz meets astronauts selected for human space mission, calls it historic milestone
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets Pakistani Astronauts in Islamabad on April 23, 2026. Photo: PMO
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met Pakistani astronauts Khurram Daud and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali, selected for a human space mission by China, and described their participation in space research as a landmark achievement for the country and a matter of national pride.
China selected the two Pakistani astronauts as candidates for its manned space programme. Both will travel to China for training, and one will participate in a flight mission as a payload specialist and become the first foreign astronaut in China's space station.
Upon completing all training courses and passing relevant assessments, one of them will be selected for a mission crew as a payload specialist to participate in a spaceflight, becoming the first foreign astronaut to visit the Chinese space station. The Pakistani astronaut will conduct several scientific experiments in microgravity, which span areas including material science, fluid physics, life and bio science, and biotechnology.
The two met the premier today in a meeting at the PM House, during which he expressed "deep pleasure" over meeting the young astronauts and termed their selection for space research a "significant milestone" for Pakistan.
“I am confident that you are going to write a new chapter in Pakistan’s history,” the prime minister told the astronauts, appreciating their dedication and hard work that enabled them to reach this important stage.
اسلام آباد: 23 اپریل، 2026.
وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف سے انسانی خلائی مشن پر جانے والے پاکستانی خلا باز، خرم داؤد اور محمد ذیشان علی کی ملاقات ہوئی. اس موقع پر سپارکو کے خلاباز اتاشی حسنین افتخار بھی موجود تھے.
ملاقات میں نائب وزیرِ اعظم و وزیرِ خارجہ سینیٹر محمد اسحاق ڈار،… pic.twitter.com/20BVGYUIGHThe prime minister, amid highlighting Pakistan-China cooperation in the space sector, said the astronauts’ mission through Chinese collaboration would further strengthen the longstanding ties between the two countries, adding that bilateral cooperation in space research reflected a "shared commitment to exploring new frontiers and reaching greater scientific heights together".
Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, present in the meeting, welcomed the prime minister’s remarks and described expanding cooperation between Pakistan and China in space research as encouraging and forward-looking.
The astronauts expressed gratitude for the opportunity and termed their participation in space research a "unique honour and a source of pride for Pakistan". They reaffirmed their resolve to meet the nation’s expectations through dedication and hard work.
Read More: Pakistan launches new remote sensing satellite from China
Astronaut Attaché Hasnain Iftikhar from Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) was also present during the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatemi, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, and SUPARCO Chairman Muhammad Yousaf Khan.
This is not the first time Pakistan and China have collaborated on space projects. Last year in October, SUPARCO successfully launched the country’s first-ever Hyperspectral Satellite (HS-1) from China.
The HS-1 satellite was engineered to capture ultra-precise hyperspectral imagery across hundreds of narrow spectral bands, offering unprecedented resolution for the analysis of land, vegetation, water, and urban features. Through its advanced imaging capability, HS-1 empowered the nation to precisely map crop vitality, soil moisture, and water quality, while rigorously tracking deforestation, pollution, and glacial melt.
In July 2025, Pakistan successfully launched its latest remote sensing satellite from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. The launch was carried out by SUPARCO, Pakistan’s national space agency, in collaboration with the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation and MICROSAT China.