China has ​selected two Pakistani ‌astronauts as candidates for ​its manned ​space programme, ⁠CCTV ​reported on Wednesday. The candidates are Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud.

Both ​will travel to China for training, ​and ​one will participate in ‌a ⁠flight mission as a payload specialist ​and ​become ⁠the first foreign astronaut ​in China’s ​space ⁠station, CCTV said.

“Upon completing all training courses and passing relevant assessments, one of them will be selected for a mission crew as a payload specialist to participate in a spaceflight, becoming the first foreign astronaut to visit the Chinese space station,” the statement said as per China Daily.

Pakistan’s Information Ministry also announced the selection of the candidates in an X post, terming it a “landmark advancement in Pakistan’s Manned Space Mission Program.”

Daud and Zeeshan Ali are set to depart for China to begin advanced astronaut training at the Astronaut Centre of China (ACC), the ministry said. It added, “This is a significant step forward in Pakistan’s space exploration journey that positions the country in the community of a select group of nations actively engaged in human spaceflight programs.”

Under the collaboration, the post read, “Pakistan is preparing for its first-ever participation in a mission to the China Space Station (CSS),” adding that the mission is planned for launch in late 2026.

Aboard the CSS, “the Pakistani astronaut will conduct several scientific experiments in microgravity,” which span areas including material science, fluid physics, life and bio science, and biotechnology, the ministry revealed. This, it added, brings potential applications for climate resilience, food security, and industrial innovation.

Read: China to train two Pakistani astronauts

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the efforts of Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the post read, with the premier also appreciating the “ironclad China-Pakistan brotherhood.”

SUPARCO completed the secondary phase of selecting astronaut candidates, marking another step in Pakistan’s Human Spaceflight Programme, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in February 2026.

Following an initial screening in Pakistan, two candidates were shortlisted after undergoing detailed medical, psychological and aptitude assessments at the ACC. SUPARCO said the evaluations were conducted in line with international human spaceflight standards.

The cooperation is based on the bilateral “Astronaut Cooperation Agreement” signed in February 2025 under the leadership of PM Shehbaz. Pakistan was chosen by China as the first foreign partner in its astronaut programme, reflecting close ties between the two countries.