BEIJING: Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Monday said that the country’s space agency, SUPARCO, has been tasked with launching a lunar mission by 2035. The development marks a major step forward in Pakistan’s ambitions for space exploration.
Ahsan Iqbal made the remarks during a high-level meeting with Shan Zhongde, Chairman of China’s Atomic Energy Authority and Space Agency in Beijing on Monday, Radio Pakistan reported.
The discussion focused on expanding collaboration in space and nuclear energy to support Pakistan’s national development goals.
Iqbal said that under the “Uraan Pakistan” initiative, space sciences have gained new momentum under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The planning minister further said that Pakistan recently launched three satellites in collaboration with China and plans to send its first astronaut to the Chinese space station by 2026.
Highlighting the growing impact of climate change, Iqbal emphasised the urgency of adopting alternative energy sources to address vulnerabilities in food, water, and health security.
The planning minister called for deeper collaboration between Pakistan and China in peaceful nuclear energy and advanced technology, including quantum computing.
“The K-2, K-3, and C-5 nuclear power plants stand as shining examples of this strategic cooperation,” Iqbal added.
The planning minister said that Pakistan has established a Quantum Computing Center and is actively aligning science and technology sectors with its economic development priorities.
He urged greater educational opportunities for young Pakistani scientists through Chinese exchange programmes.
The planning minister also acknowledged that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has played a vital role in removing bottlenecks in Pakistan’s infrastructure and energy sectors.
Chairman Shan Zhongde appreciated Pakistan’s continued progress under CPEC and affirmed China’s full cooperation in advancing Pakistan’s space research and peaceful nuclear capabilities.
He reiterated China’s commitment to further strengthen economic and strategic ties between the two countries. He also reaffirmed China’s readiness to extend full cooperation to Pakistan in the field of space research.
Pakistan launches Remote Sensing Satellite
On Thursday, Pakistan successfully launched Remote Sensing Satellite-1 (PRSS-1) through China’s Kuaizhou-1A carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.
The satellite entered its designated orbit without any issues, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said. This mission marks the 29th flight of the Kuaizhou-1A model.
SUPARCO said the new Remote Sensing Satellite will be a major milestone in Pakistan’s space exploration efforts and strengthen its position in Earth observation capabilities.
“The Remote Sensing Satellite will provide imaging capabilities to revolutionise urban planning, disaster management, food security, and environmental protection. It will also greatly aid in monitoring climate change, managing water resources, mapping agricultural patterns and tracking deforestation,” said the space agency.
The launch was a result of the collaboration between SUPARCO, China Electronics Technology Group Corporation and MICROSAT China.
The satellite will support precision agriculture to boost crop yields, monitor infrastructure growth and urban expansion, and enable more effective regional planning.
It will also enhance disaster management efforts by providing timely warnings for floods, landslides, and earthquakes, while tracking glacier recession and deforestation.
It will contribute to national development initiatives such as CPEC by mapping transportation networks and identifying geohazard risks, SUPARCO said.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who witnessed the launch ceremony as the chief guest, said the event was not only a technological milestone, but a “moment that lifts our national spirit and elevates our friendship with China”.
