China’s Manned Space Agency has chosen two Pakistani individuals as potential astronauts for its program. The agency announced on Wednesday that Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud successfully completed several selection stages and will head to China for further preparation. One is anticipated to serve as a payload expert on an upcoming flight to the Tiangong space station, which could make them the initial non-Chinese visitor to the outpost. The agency stated that after finishing training and evaluations, one candidate will join a crew for a space journey, marking the first foreign participation at the Chinese station. This event would represent the first instance of a Pakistani citizen entering Earth’s orbit. Officials called it a significant milestone for China’s space initiatives and a sign of strengthening ties between the nations. The statement highlighted it as a key success in international partnerships at the Chinese space station and a practical outcome of the enduring strategic alliance between China and Pakistan in space activities. The agency also expressed openness to broader involvement in its space endeavors, inviting nations to join in areas like scientific research, technology trials, astronaut preparation, and missions aboard Tiangong. It aims to enhance collective knowledge of the cosmos and foster a unified future for humanity. This follows a February 2025 agreement between China’s Manned Space Agency and Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission for collaborative astronaut training.
