Pakistan is heading to space. China’s state broadcaster CCTV confirmed on Wednesday that two Pakistani astronaut candidates, Khurram Daud and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali, have been selected for China’s manned space program and are set to depart for advanced training in Beijing.
Upon completing all training courses and passing relevant assessments, one of them will be selected for a mission crew as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut to visit the Chinese space station, according to China Daily.
Both candidates passed multiple rounds of selection procedures before being confirmed by Chinese state media. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting called it a landmark advancement in the country’s manned space mission program.
Pakistan’s First Mission to China’s Tiangong Space Station
SUPARCO confirmed that Pakistan is preparing for its first-ever participation in a mission to China’s Tiangong Space Station, with the mission currently expected to take place by the end of 2026. The selected astronaut will serve as a payload specialist aboard a Shenzhou mission, conducting scientific experiments in microgravity.
The experiments will cover key fields including material science, fluid physics, life sciences, and biotechnology. Officials say the research outcomes could have real-world applications in climate resilience, food security, and industrial innovation.
Both candidates will begin training at the Astronaut Centre of China. The training period is expected to last between six months and a year, after which one will be confirmed for the flight and the other will serve as backup.
It is also worth noting the broader geopolitical context. China has been barred from participating in the International Space Station since 2011, when the US prohibited NASA from collaborating with Chinese space agencies. Since then, Beijing has sought to build partnerships with other countries, including Pakistan, in its expanding space program.
Pakistan-China Space Agreement Behind the Historic Selection
The selection follows a bilateral Astronaut Cooperation Agreement signed in Islamabad in February 2025 between the China Manned Space Agency and SUPARCO to enhance cooperation in astronaut selection, training, and space exploration.
Pakistan was chosen by China as the first foreign partner in its astronaut program, a choice Beijing described as a reflection of the close ties between the two countries. The China Manned Space Agency called the development a milestone in international cooperation and a practical example of the deepening China-Pakistan strategic partnership.
Pakistan’s inclusion also complements similar plans for participants from Hong Kong and Macao, underscoring Beijing’s broader commitment to internationalizing its space cooperation efforts.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised SUPARCO for its progress in deep-space research and highlighted the enduring Pakistan-China friendship. He called the collaboration another practical manifestation of bilateral ties and described the selection of Pakistan as the first country for participation in a manned space mission as a testament to the ironclad brotherhood between the two nations.
The announcement places Pakistan among a select group of nations actively participating in human spaceflight. If the mission proceeds as planned in late 2026, one of the two candidates will become not only Pakistan’s first astronaut in orbit, but also the first foreign national to step aboard China’s Tiangong space station.
