In a major step for Pakistan’s space journey, China has selected two Pakistani astronauts, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, as candidates for its manned space programme. The announcement was reported by China Central Television, showing growing cooperation between the two countries in advanced science and technology.
The two candidates were shortlisted after going through a thorough process that included medical, psychological, and aptitude assessments at the Astronauts Centre of China, in line with international spaceflight standards.
They will now undergo six months of advanced astronaut training, after which one will be selected for a spaceflight mission aboard Tiangong, expected in October or November 2026.
This journey began earlier in 2025. Pakistan’s space agency SUPARCO and China’s manned space body CMSE signed a cooperation agreement in February 2025, marking the first time China agreed to select and train astronauts from a foreign country.
The chosen Pakistani astronaut will fly as a payload specialist on a short-duration mission, carrying out scientific experiments on behalf of Pakistan while also performing routine crew duties.
The mission also carries a broader meaning. China has been barred from the International Space Station since 2011, and has since been building its own partnerships across the developing world.
SUPARCO chairman Mohammad Yousuf Khan said the mission would be broadcast in Pakistan to inspire young engineers and scientists across the country.
