Pakistan’s first astronaut set to launch on Nov. 25

Pakistan will send its inaugural astronaut into space on Nov. 25, with full backing from China, federal planning minister Ahsan Iqbal announced. Speaking at a public event, Iqbal said the mission will launch from a Chinese space facility and that China is providing comprehensive support for Pakistan’s space ambitions. He added that the country aims to achieve a lunar landing by 2035 and that cooperation with China will boost its research capabilities in space.

Iqbal highlighted the growing importance of space technology for agriculture, communications and national security, and urged young Pakistanis to pursue science and research to reach new milestones. He also revealed plans to open the nation’s first space museum at the University of Narowal. Referring to a passage from the Quran that calls on people to contemplate the universe, he stressed the value of knowledge and scientific inquiry.

Two Pakistani candidates, Khurram Daud and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali, traveled to China in April 2026 for advanced astronaut training. Their preparation coincides with the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission’s (SUPARCO) readiness for Pakistan’s debut on the Tiangong space station. Officials expect a Pakistani astronaut to join a Shenzhou flight as a payload specialist before the end of 2026. The astronaut will carry out a series of experiments in microgravity, covering material science, biotechnology and life sciences, research that could help address climate change and food‑security challenges.