Suparco unveils name of Pakistan’s first lunar rover – Jinnah-I

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s first indigenous lunar rover will head to the Moon’s south pole in 2029 aboard China’s Chang’e-8 mission, with the national space agency on Thursday officially naming it “Jinnah-1”.

The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) said the rover will conduct scientific studies of the lunar surface, including its geology, plasma and radiation environment, alongside experiments relevant to future lunar exploration.

The name was unveiled at a ceremony in Islamabad following a nationwide competition that attracted around 4,000 entries. Seven participants proposed “Jinnah-1”, with 17-year-old Tayyab Karim of Bahawalnagar selected as the winner through a lucky draw.

Suparco said the name honours Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and represents Pakistan’s ambitions to advance its space and scientific capabilities.

Pakistan joined China’s Chang’e-8 lunar programme in 2024, with the inclusion of the locally developed rover marking a significant expansion of bilateral cooperation in space technology.

The lunar south pole has emerged as a major focus of international space exploration due to its scientific potential. India landed its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft near the region in 2023, while the United States and China are pursuing further missions as part of their respective lunar programmes.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026