Pakistan Sets Goal to Lunar Landing by 2035

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.

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.

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.