Pakistan to launch lunar mission by 2035, says planning minister

Pakistan has announced plans to launch a lunar mission by 2035 under the country’s space agency, Suparco, as part of its long-term space exploration strategy.

The development was shared by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal during a high-level meeting in Beijing with Shan Zhongde, Chairman of China’s Atomic Energy Authority and Space Agency, on Monday. Iqbal said the mission falls under the broader “Uraan Pakistan” initiative aimed at advancing science and technology under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership.

He also announced that Pakistan is preparing to send its first astronaut to China’s space station in 2026. The country recently launched three satellites in collaboration with China, marking further progress in its space program.

Iqbal stressed the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation with China in the fields of peaceful nuclear energy and emerging technologies such as quantum computing. He highlighted the role of projects like the K-2, K-3, and C-5 nuclear power plants as examples of strategic collaboration.

Pakistan has also established a Quantum Computing Center and is aligning scientific innovation with economic development. The minister called for enhanced educational exchanges to support young Pakistani scientists through Chinese scholarship and training programs.

The meeting also addressed climate change challenges, with Iqbal underlining the need for alternative energy sources to ensure security in food, water, and health sectors.