Pakistan to begin search for its first astronaut this year

• Fawad said the list of some fifty recruits for the mission will be compiled this year, meanwhile the astronaut training would begin in 2021.

As Pakistan seeks to send its first astronaut on space mission by 2022, Pakistan would begin its search for the country’s first astronaut this year, informed Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry.

“The initial briefings for Pakistan’s first manned mission to space has started. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has been given the task,” said Chaudhry while talking to local media.

He said that the list of some fifty recruits for the mission will be compiled this year, meanwhile the astronaut training would begin in 2021. “We are hopeful to send Pakistan first manned mission to space by late 2022 or early 2023,” said the minister.

He said that some 456 government schools would be upgraded as STEM -Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths school in the first stage.

Speaking about the mineral water project, the minister said that the ministry is in progress to sign an Expression of Interest with the utility stores. “We would install the paraphernalia at fifty utility stores in the first stage, this would expand to other utility stores as well,” said Chaudhry.

The minister informed that they would also involve the private sector into this project.