Beijing:
Pakistan and China held lectures on Monday to adapt their collaboration in core energy and space research with broader development goals.
The development came when the Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal met with China Atomic Energy Authority and China’s Space Agency’s chairman Shan Zhongde.
“The meeting focused on adapting collaboration in core energy and space research with broader national development goals,” a statement states.
Iqbal acknowledged that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has played an important role in removing bottlenecks in Pakistan’s infrastructure and energy sectors.
He noted that collaboration between Pakistan and China in the core energy sector continues to grow. K-2, K-3 and C-5 nuclear power plants stand as shining examples of this strategic collaboration.
When he talked about the effects of climate change, the minister emphasized the urgent need to adopt alternative energy sources.
He noted that climate change has forced the world to explore alternative energy options to tackle vulnerabilities in food security, water, healthcare, agriculture, mineral resources and other key sectors in the economy.
He said Pakistan’s space program under the leadership and vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has gained a new momentum.
He highlighted the “Uraan Pakistan” initiative and maintained that special focus was given on promoting space science.
Recently, he said, Pakistan successfully launched three satellites with China’s collaboration and added “Pakistan is ready to send his first astronaut to the Chinese space station in 2026.” Iqbal also shared that Pakistan’s Space Agency, Suparco, has been tasked with launching a lunar mission in 2035.
He emphasized that Pakistan had a pool of highly educated human resources at a relatively low price that China could benefit from improving their skills through collaboration.
The minister emphasized that Pakistan has established a Quantum Computing Center in response to new technological challenges.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening research partnership and knowledge exchange between Caec, Suparco and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission for the peaceful use of technology.
The Minister noted that the government has launched a national program to adapt science, technology and technical sectors with Pakistan’s development goals.
He emphasized the need to expand the opportunities for young Pakistani researchers to receive higher education in space technology through Chinese exchange programs.
Chairman Zhongde valued Iqbal’s valuable contribution to CPEC’s progress.
He said that Pakistan and China enjoyed strong Pakinomist-strategic connections, which have now evolved into deeply rooted financial cooperation.
He confirmed that China was ready to expand full cooperation to Pakistan in space research, adding that both countries were obliged to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
