Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal held important meetings in Houston with NASA officials and representatives of leading US aerospace companies, where discussions focused on advancing Pakistan’s space vision, promoting space education and scientific research, and creating world-class opportunities for young Pakistanis in science and technology.
The minister said the Government of Pakistan is working on a national space education programme aimed at fostering scientific curiosity, research and innovation among the country’s youth. He said the proposed establishment of a Space Exploration Centre in Narowal is part of this broader vision and is intended to introduce young people to the universe, science and space research while inspiring the next generation of scientists, researchers and inventors.
Professor Ahsan Iqbal said the proposed Space Learning Centre would not merely be an educational facility, but an important national initiative to promote knowledge, research and innovation. He said introducing children and young people to space science is an investment in Pakistan’s future, as it will help nurture the scientists, researchers and innovators who will shape the country’s scientific and technological progress in the years ahead.
He said Pakistani youth represent valuable talent and the government wants to provide them with world-class training, research exposure and practical opportunities through collaboration with NASA and American institutions. He noted that Pakistan’s young engineers, scientists and IT professionals have the potential to play a prominent role in the global space industry, provided they are given the right training, mentorship and international exposure.
Inviting American aerospace companies to establish development centres in Pakistan and benefit from the country’s young talent, the minister said Pakistan seeks to draw on NASA’s experience, training programmes and scientific expertise to strengthen the country’s capabilities in space science and technology. He said the interest shown by NASA and the US aerospace industry in cooperation with Pakistan was an encouraging development that could open a new chapter in scientific and technological collaboration.
Professor Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan aims to send a national mission to the Moon by 2035 and establish a sustained lunar presence by 2047. He said this vision is not limited to space missions alone, but forms part of a wider national strategy to lay the foundations of a knowledge-based, research-driven and innovation-led economy. He added that Pakistan’s space programme would be advanced through global partnerships, modern research and the strength of its young workforce.
He said cooperation with NASA and the American aerospace industry could usher in a new era of science, research and space education in Pakistan. According to the minister, Pakistan-US relations should increasingly be anchored in education, climate cooperation, scientific research, innovation and space technology. He said the time had come to move the relationship beyond geopolitics and expand it into geo-economics, science and technology partnerships.
Professor Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan is laying the foundations of a brighter future through science, innovation and global partnerships. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to connecting young people with modern knowledge, research and technology so that Pakistan can emerge as a strong regional centre of scientific progress, space research and innovation-led growth.
