China has selected two Pakistani astronauts as candidates for its human spaceflight program, in a move that marks a major milestone in bilateral space cooperation.
The candidates—Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud—have successfully passed multiple stages of screening and are set to travel to China for formal training, according to China Daily. One of them is expected to serve as a payload specialist on a future mission, potentially becoming the first foreign astronaut to visit China’s Tiangong space station.
The China Manned Space Agency described the development as a “landmark event,” highlighting Beijing’s growing emphasis on international collaboration in space.
State news agency Xinhua reported that the initiative reflects China’s intent to share its technological advancements and promote the peaceful use of outer space.
Two Pakistani astronauts; Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, has been selected as payload specialists for the Chinese space station.
After training, one of them will be the first non-Chinese astronaut in the Chinese Space Station.
Once in space, they will be the first… pic.twitter.com/rSMzMYekjt
— Zhao DaShuai 东北进修🇨🇳 Commentary (@zhao_dashuai) April 22, 2026
Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) said the astronauts will undergo advanced training at the Astronaut Centre of China, calling the development a “significant step forward” that places Pakistan among a select group of nations involved in human spaceflight.
Under the agreement, one Pakistani astronaut is expected to participate in a mission to the Tiangong space station, tentatively scheduled for launch in late 2026. The mission will include experiments in microgravity across fields such as material science, fluid physics, life sciences and biotechnology, with potential applications in climate resilience, food security and industrial innovation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the announcement, describing it as a milestone for Pakistan’s space ambitions and a testament to the country’s deepening strategic partnership with China.
وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف سے انسانی خلائی مشن پر جانے والے پاکستانی خلا باز، خرم داؤد اور محمد ذیشان علی کی ملاقات۔
اس موقع پر سپارکو کے خلاباز اتاشی حسنین افتخار بھی موجود تھے
ملاقات میں نائب وزیرِ اعظم و وزیرِ خارجہ سینیٹر محمد اسحاق ڈار، وزیرِ منصوبہ بندی احسن اقبال، وزیرِ… pic.twitter.com/swtfXrwYRn
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) April 23, 2026
The selection follows a cooperation agreement signed in 2025 between SUPARCO and the China Manned Space Agency, under which two Pakistani candidates were to receive training in China, with one designated for a future spaceflight mission.
China has steadily expanded international partnerships in its space program in recent years, particularly after its exclusion from the International Space Station project in 2011 due to U.S. restrictions on cooperation with Chinese space agencies.
Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
