With debt-burdened economy, Pakistan eyes Moon landing by 2035: Can China help make its space ambitions a reality?

Pakistan will send its first astronaut into space aboard a Chinese spacecraft on 25 November, highlighting Beijing’s growing influence over Islamabad’s space ambitions. With a Moon landing targeted for 2035, Pakistan faces questions over technological dependence and funding amid economic woes.

Pakistan has set an ambitious target for a 2035 Moon landing as it prepares to send its first astronaut into space aboard a Chinese spacecraft. The move underscores Beijing’s growing influence over Islamabad’s space ambitions and raises questions about whether the debt-laden country can develop independent capabilities amid rising inflation and poverty.

Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the country’s first astronaut would undertake a space mission from a Chinese space centre on 25 November, according to Dawn.

The planning minister also outlined Pakistan’s target of achieving a lunar landing by 2035, expressing hope that its partnership with China would propel the country’s space exploration ambitions.

However, the mission will rely heavily on Chinese infrastructure, technology and expertise.

The astronaut will fly aboard a Chinese-built spacecraft launched from a Chinese facility, after undergoing training with Chinese instructors, as per the report.

The selected candidate will serve as a “payload specialist”, focusing on conducting scientific experiments in orbit rather than piloting the spacecraft, according to the report.

A SUPARCO official quoted by Reuters also indicated that the astronaut would be expected to communicate in Mandarin while in space.

The mission marks a milestone for Pakistan’s space programme, but also highlights the extent to which its ambitions remain tied to Beijing’s technological capabilities.

China holds key to Pakistan’s first human spaceflight

Pakistan’s planned human spaceflight is the latest development in a space partnership with China that dates back to 1990, when the two countries’ cooperation included the launch of Pakistan’s Badr-I experimental satellite, according to Space Cluster.

Over the decades, Beijing has helped Islamabad expand its satellite capabilities, supporting communication and Earth-observation missions, including the Paksat series, Paksat-1R, Paksat MM1 and PRSS-1.

In 2024, Pakistan’s ICUBE-Q lunar CubeSat travelled aboard China’s Chang’e-6 mission, which brought samples back from the Moon’s far side.

Can Pakistan achieve a Moon landing by 2035?

Iqbal expressed confidence that cooperation with China will help the country advance its space programme.

Islamabad is also planning to contribute a Pakistani-built lunar rover to China’s Chang’e-8 mission, expected around 2028.

The project could provide an opportunity for Pakistan to demonstrate its domestic engineering capabilities while participating in a Chinese-led lunar exploration programme, as per the report.

Space ambitions versus economic realities

Pakistan’s space ambitions come against the backdrop of persistent economic challenges, including high public debt, poverty and dependence on external financial assistance.

Although recent stabilisation efforts and support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have helped address some immediate pressures, the country continues to face structural weaknesses that constrain public spending and long-term investment.

Pakistan’s headline inflation rose to 7.1%, as per government data, while national poverty was estimated at 28.9%, affecting around 70 million people, according to an ANI report.

About the Author

Bhanu Pratap is a journalist who reports and writes on foreign affairs, India’s foreign policy, geopolitics and strategic affairs. He closely follows diplomatic developments in New Delhi and has a keen interest in defence and national security.<br> <br> Bhanu also focuses on in-depth, interview-based reports and regularly speaking with experts and policymakers to bring perspectives and context to major developments around the world.<br> <br> He is also interested in stories with strong humanitarian angles.<br><br> One such report examined the cases of Indian nationals who were allegedly recruited and forced into Russia’s war against Ukraine. While reporting the story, Bhanu spoke to the families of those affected and documented their experiences. The report was later taken into account by the United Nations in its findings on human rights violations linked to the war in Ukraine.<br> <br> For Bhanu, the zeal to produce meaningful and impactful journalism remains at the heart of his work.<br> <br>He has previously worked with Firstpost, NDTV, Newslaundry and Republic.<br><br> Bhanu studied at the Delhi School of Journalism, University of Delhi. He initially chose science with plans to pursue engineering, influenced by conventional expectations, but fate had other plans and eventually led him to journalism.<br><br> Beyond the newsroom, Bhanu enjoys exploring culture and history and often spends his days off on heritage walks. He is also passionate about travelling, biking and listening to folk music.<br> <br>For tips, reviews and suggestions, you can reach him at bhanu.pratap@htdigital.in.