Pakistan’s plan to send a citizen into space has gained fresh momentum, with the government proposing Rs1.29 billion for the Pakistan Manned Space Mission in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2026–27.
According to budget documents, the total approved cost of the project stands at Rs2.19 billion. By June 2026, around Rs900 million is expected to have already been spent, while the remaining Rs1.29 billion has been allocated for the next fiscal year to continue development work.
The human spaceflight initiative is part of a broader expansion of Pakistan’s space programme under the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which is also engaged in satellite development, deep-space observation, lunar research, and related infrastructure projects.
The project received a major push in February 2025 when Pakistan and China signed an agreement for astronaut cooperation, under which Pakistani candidates will be trained for potential missions aboard China’s Tiangong Space Station.
Over the past year, two Pakistani astronaut candidates have reportedly been shortlisted after undergoing medical, psychological, and aptitude evaluations in China. They are expected to undergo advanced training, with one likely to join a future mission to the Chinese space station—potentially becoming the first Pakistani in space.
Although the allocation is relatively small compared to global space agencies, the continued funding highlights Pakistan’s intent to maintain its human spaceflight ambitions despite broader fiscal constraints.
