&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Pakistan's lunar dream: Islamabad aims for its first mission by 2035 with China’s help")
Pakistan plans to land a spacecraft on the Moon by 2035, despite beginning its space research programme almost a decade earlier than India, according to Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, as reported by Geo News. The announcement comes at a time when Pakistan is grappling with the upsurge of terrorist attacks, weak infrastructure, and economic instability.
Iqbal emphasised the need for deeper reliance on China to bridge gaps in its space and nuclear programs. His statement came while speaking during a meeting in Beijing with Chinese officials, including Shan Zhongde, Head of China's Atomic Energy Authority and Space Agency, Geo News reported.
The responsibility for the lunar mission lies with Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which has yet to independently launch any satellite or space mission, particularly without Chinese assistance.
As part of its collaboration with China, Pakistan will contribute a 35-kilogram lunar rover for the Chang'e-8 mission in 2028. The rover will explore the south pole of the Moon, and it will conduct scientific experiments, analyse terrain, and assess resource utilisation.
Pakistan’s reliance on China
This partnership highlights Pakistan’s heavy dependence on the technology and expertise of China, which shows its limited independent capabilities.
Trending Stories
)
Trillionaire Elon Musk's net worth after SpaceX IPO equals 25 per cent of India's GDP and more than 160 countries' output
)
Araghchi says Iran won the war, claims US ready to unlock $24 billion
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (June 12, 2026): Raakh, Bhooth Bangla, Dridam- Watch these 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video, JioHotstar and more
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata Review: Kangana Ranaut throws light on untold side of 26/11 beyond Taj and Leopold
)
NEET aspirant posing as fake Brigadier walks into Army trap in UP, arrested – Here’s what happened
)
Iran declares SpaceX and Starlink assets in West Asia legitimate military targets
)
Indian Govt to fund startup aiming to build Methane-LOX rocket engine
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
World's Safest Countries in 2026: Did India make it to the top 10? Here's where it ranks
)
‘No food in the fridge’: Why Elon Musk, world’s first trillionaire, lives in 400 sq ft home?
)
FIFA World Cup 2026: Katy Perry offers a backstage look at her opening ceremony preparations
)
Scientists discover world's largest 'whale graveyard' hidden 7km beneath the Indian Ocean
)
Russia-Ukraine War: Kyiv Struggles To Replenish Frontline Forces, Turns To Foreign Recruits
)
Why Nepal joins Japan in banning Indian Mango imports & how it could impact exporters
)
'Message from space': Did CIA destroy an alien message? Newly released UFO files reveal bizarre 1958 mystery
)
'Israel not a party to deal' Netanyahu hails Trump assurances on Iran nuclear curbs, missile restrictions
)
From ballistic missiles to maritime threats: India successfully tests key defence technologies, enters elite club
)
'Beaten, stripped, whipped': Indian-origin man gets 34 years in jail for raping UK woman
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony: Shakira, Nora Fatehi, LISA and more-a look at all the performers of the night
)
Fact Check: Indian crew members aboard Liaki Freedom vessel attacked by missiles? MEA says...
)
Raakh ending explained: The final episode is far more devastating than it appears
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada Opening Ceremony in pictures: Nora Fatehi, Alessia Cara dazzle with their performance
)
UFO files: ‘Alien base’ on the moon’s dark side? Secret NASA audio recording from Apollo 16 reveals...
)
Israel rules out withdrawal from Lebanon, Syria and Gaza; Iran says proposed deal includes all fronts
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Beyond Strait of Hormuz: How the Oman-Gujarat deep-sea pipeline could transform India's energy imports
)
FIFA 2026: Paraguay’s Bobadilla nets first own goal of ongoing World Cup
)
Mathematician who correctly predicted last 3 World Cup winners reveals FIFA World Cup 2026 champion
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How US fighter jet pilots can change a missile's target after launch
)
IMD tracks El Niño growth as concerns mount over India's rainfall outlook
)
Indian Air Force aircraft crashes in Assam’s Jorhat, killing 5 personnel
)
Mobile tower stolen in Bihar: Police probe bizarre theft in Buxar. This is what happened
)
How RSI-India, inspired by MIT, is giving Indian school students a taste of cutting-edge research
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
China's Gaokao vs India's JEE: Comparing the world's toughest entrance examinations
)
India's $2 billion drone push: Why batteries could be biggest winner in defence-tech boom
)
Kate Middleton channels Princess Diana with blue dress at Trooping the Colour: In pics
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Is it logically smarter to buy an electric car right now just to avoid fuel costs?
Along with space, Pakistan has also increased its dependency on China in nuclear energy and advanced technologies such as the quantum computing sector, where it has negligible capacity to build indigenously. This shows Beijing acting as the driving force behind the scientific and technological ambitions of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made a significant leapfrog as compared to Pakistan, with some of the famous successful missions, which include the lunar mission Chandrayaan and the Mars mission (Mangalyaan). ISRO is also preparing for its first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, which is scheduled for launch in early 2027.
