TODAY’S PAPER | May 23, 2026 | EPAPER

Two Pakistani astronauts undergoing training in China

Training equips Pakistani astronauts with hands-on skills needed to fully execute mission in space


Xinhua May 23, 2026 1 min read
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets Pakistani Astronauts in Islamabad on April 23, 2026. Photo: PMO

Two Pakistani astronauts have entered the Astronaut Centre of China and are participating in mission training alongside their Chinese counterparts, with all related work progressing smoothly, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Saturday.

According to the plan, one Pakistani astronaut will serve as a payload specialist for a short-term spaceflight mission. They are currently following the programme to complete basic training and aerospace technical training, CMSA spokesperson Zhang Jingbo told a press conference in Jiuquan in northwest China.

The training focuses on developing hands-on operational capabilities to ensure the Pakistani astronauts are fully qualified to carry out the mission, Zhang explained.

Read More: Two Pakistani astronauts selected as candidates for China space programme

During the initial phase of the training, intensive Chinese language instruction will be conducted to strengthen their Chinese proficiency, including basic Chinese knowledge and the relevant command vocabulary required for mission execution.

The CMSA announced in April that two Pakistani astronauts, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, had been selected as the final candidates following the completion of the first selection of foreign astronauts for China's manned space programme.

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