Prime Minister of pakistan Shehbaz Sharif sat down today with Pakistan's first-ever human spaceflight crew
astronauts Khurram Dawood and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali-in a meeting that marks a defining moment in the country's scientific ambitions. SUPARCO astronaut Atashi Hassnan Iftikhar was also present, alongside a high-powered gathering that included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and China's Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong-a lineup that underscored just how significant this mission is being treated at the highest levels of government.
Speaking directly to the astronauts, the Prime Minister was visibly moved, telling them it was a heartfelt pleasure to meet two young Pakistanis on the cusp of history. He said their journey to conduct research in space is a significant milestone for Pakistan and a matter of pride for the entire nation, adding that he was confident they were about to write a new chapter-one earned through relentless hard work and dedication that the country salutes.
Shehbaz also turned to the Chinese Ambassador, saying the friendship between Pakistan and China in space research is ready to reach for the stars-a sentiment Jiang Zaidong warmly welcomed, describing the bilateral cooperation in space as a development that both nations should celebrate. The mission, made possible through Pakistan-China collaboration, is seen as a natural extension of the two countries' deepening strategic and technological partnership.
For the astronauts themselves, the weight of the moment was clear. Both Dawood and Zeeshan Ali told the Prime Minister that performing research duties in space on behalf of Pakistan is a source of honour, a unique privilege, and a matter of immense pride-and that they would leave nothing on the table in their effort to live up to the hopes of a nation watching with its eyes turned upward.
