Pakistan to send astronauts to China for first space training: Suparco
Listen to article
Pakistan will send two astronauts to China for training under a landmark space collaboration agreement, becoming the first foreign nation to join Beijing's prestigious space station training programme.
The announcement was made by Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) Director Shafaat Ali on Friday.
Speaking to a private news outlet, Ali confirmed that the two astronauts will be selected based on merit, with eligibility criteria including PhD qualifications, aviation experience, and stringent physical standards.
The collaboration comes under an agreement signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government, marking a historic step in Pakistan-China space ties.
'This partnership opens new avenues for advanced scientific research and strengthens the already robust strategic relationship between the two countries,' Ali said.
Until now, astronaut training in China had been limited to its own citizens. This shift, Suparco noted, reflects deepening trust and a shared vision for space exploration.
Ali outlined a three-phase selection process that will conclude by 2026, with the chosen candidates expected to conduct cutting-edge scientific experiments aboard the Chinese Space Station (CSS). Research areas will include microgravity, space radiation, fluid mechanics, astronomy, and biological sciences.
Expressing gratitude to the Chinese government and Prime Minister Sharif, Ali said the initiative marks 'a giant leap' for Pakistan's space ambitions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
23-06-2025
- Business Recorder
Gwadar agri team visits Zhengzhou
ISLAMABAD: A 10-member high-level agricultural delegation from Gwadar concluded a five-day productive visit to Zhengzhou, China's Henan Province from June 16-20, marking a step forward in enhancing Pakistan-China cooperation in agriculture, education and ecological development. The delegation, comprising agricultural experts and enterprise representatives, engaged in extensive knowledge-sharing and explored numerous collaboration opportunities during their packed itinerary, Gwadar Pro reported on Sunday. Their first stop was the Zhengzhou Garden Expo's state-of-the-art tissue culture laboratory and nursery base, where they gained firsthand experience of China's advanced plant propagation techniques and nursery management systems. Educational cooperation formed another key focus area, with visits to primary and secondary schools in Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone to discuss potential student and faculty exchanges. The delegation showed particular interest in China's successful model of integrating ecological farming concepts into school curricula. At the Henan Academy of Sciences, the delegation held detailed technical discussions with researchers at the Laser Manufacturing Research Institute about potential applications of laser technology on Gwadar's agricultural sector. A subsequent visit to Zhongmu County's garlic planting base provided valuable insights into high-yield cultivation methods and post-harvest processing techniques that could be replicated in Gwadar. A major milestone was achieved at Henan Agricultural University with the signing of a landmark Sino-Pak Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement focusing on the introduction and comprehensive utilization of Paulownia and other plants. The agreement paves the way for joint research initiatives and technology transfer between the two sides. The visit also included cultural components, with the delegation experiencing China's rich heritage at the world-famous Shaolin Temple. Business networking opportunities were explored during the meeting with Yulin Holding, where potential investment projects were discussed. Experts believe such exchanges under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework will significantly contribute to Gwadar's development as an agricultural hub and enhance food security in the region. Owais Mir, a member of the delegation, expressed optimism about implementing the knowledge gained during this visit to boost Gwadar's agricultural productivity and exports.
Express Tribune
16-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Blue whale found dead in Gwatar Bay
A blue whale measuring about 35 feet long was recorded dead at a remote area in Gwatar Bay between Pakistan and Iran on Monday. A local fisherman, Ahmad Baloch, who was fishing in the area, reported the incident of a dead whale floating near Kuntani, Balochistan. It is likely that the whale may have died a few days back in the open seawaters between Pakistan and Iran, and it drifted towards the Gwatar Bay under the influence of a rough sea and strong currents, a news release said. Although the cause of the death is not ascertained so far, it seems the animal might have gotten entangled in gillnets that are used for catching fish in the coastal and offshore waters in the area. Blue whale, scientifically called Balaenoptera musculus, is one of three baleen whales reported from Pakistani waters. The other two whales are the Bryde's whale and the Arabian humpback whale. There are four subspecies of blue whales, of which two include the pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) and the Indian Ocean blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) found in the Northern Indian Ocean. Considering its small size, this dead blue whale sighted at Kuntani may be a pygmy blue whale. Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor, WWF-Pakistan, expressed concerns over the mortality of the blue whale and termed it sad news for the conservation community around the world. He shared that the blue whale is known to be distributed in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean. Khan emphasized that although this whale is categorized as an endangered species, urgent steps are required for its conservation. Now all cetaceans, including whales and dolphins, are protected under the wildlife and fisheries legislations of Sindh and Balochistan.
Business Recorder
16-06-2025
- Business Recorder
Pakistan's plastic challenge
EDITORIAL: Plastic pollution has become one of the most pervasive and damaging environmental threats of our time, choking ecosystems, endangering wildlife and infiltrating every corner of the planet. Pakistan is no exception here, generating over two million tonnes of plastic waste annually, amounting to more than 8kg of waste per capita per year. Alarmingly, 86 percent of this waste remains unrecycled and unmanaged, clogging waterways, polluting urban spaces, and leaching toxins into food systems, soil and the sea. In fact, this crisis has become so severe that Pakistan now ranks among the top 10 plastic-polluting countries in the world. These distressing details were revealed by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) on World Environment Day that was commemorated on June 5. In its statement, the WWF-P highlighted the serious environmental and health impacts of single-use plastics in particular, which offer short-term convenience but inflict long-term damage. Billions of these disposable items are discarded daily, with around 14 million tonnes ending up in the world's oceans each year, endangering marine life and fragile ecosystems. Even more troubling is the spread of microplastics, tiny particles formed as plastic breaks down. Traces of these have been found in seafood, drinking water and even human blood, raising major public health concerns. Research links plastic exposure to hormonal imbalances, reproductive issues and increased cancer risk. Adding to the crisis, plastic production and disposal also emit greenhouse gases, worsening climate change. Most dangerously, the all-pervasive use of plastic packaging generates constant waste at both household and commercial levels, making it one of the hardest pollution types to regulate and eliminate. Plastic packaging is made from stubbornly non-biodegradable materials, like polyethylene and polystyrene, synthetic polymers that resist natural decomposition and can persist in the environment for centuries, which means that almost every piece of plastic ever produced still exists today. Pakistan's efforts to tackle plastic pollution have largely been piecemeal and reactive, relying on city- or province-specific bans on plastic bags and sporadic public awareness campaigns. Legislations like the Environmental Protection Act and the Solid Waste Management Act include provisions that aim to improve waste management, while in June 2023, media reports referenced a proposed 10-year strategy aimed at cutting plastic use, boosting recycling and minimising waste. Most recently, in April, the government introduced the National Action Roadmap to Reduce Plastic Pollution, which lays out a comprehensive plan to curb mismanaged plastic waste, at least on paper. However, huge enforcement gaps and the lack of a unified, nationwide policy to ensure coordination and consistency across provinces have hindered efforts to combat plastic waste. The fact of the matter is that the plastic industry enjoys huge economic relevance in Pakistan. Given this economic significance, a comprehensive policy framework that gradually reduces the plastic industry's dominance by promoting the production and use of environmentally friendly alternatives is essential. Banning plastic usage alone will be inadequate; authorities must also create the conditions for eco-friendly alternatives, such as biodegradable cloth or jute bags to become both widely available and affordable. This requires robust collaboration between the public and private sectors, along with targeted financial and technical assistance to help local manufacturers transition towards the production of sustainable plastic alternatives. Without viable alternatives, the public cannot be expected to comply with bans, nor can plastic producers feasibly shift to greener options without risking economic loss. Addressing plastic pollution effectively, therefore, requires a balanced approach that aligns environmental goals with economic realities to create lasting change. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
