Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met with Pakistani astronauts Khurram Dawood and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali, who are set to participate in a human space mission, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
On this occasion, SUPARCO astronaut Atashi Hassnan Iftikhar was also present.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister of Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, and SUPARCO Chairman Muhammad Yousuf Khan.
The Ambassador of China to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, also participated in the meeting.
In his remarks to the astronauts, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that it was a heartfelt pleasure to meet both of you young astronauts and astronaut Atashi. “Your journey to conduct research on the space mission is a significant milestone for Pakistan and a matter of pride for me and the entire nation,” he said and added “I am confident that you are about to write a new chapter in Pakistan's history.”
“You have achieved this position through your day-and-night hard work, which is commendable. With Chinese cooperation, this journey of yours will add new dimensions to the fraternal relations between the two countries,” he said.
In his conversation with the Chinese ambassador, PM Shehbaz Sharif said the friendship between Pakistan and China in space research is ready to reach for the stars, touching the heights of the sky.
The Chinese ambassador welcomed Prime Minister's remarks and described the cooperation between the two countries in space research as a welcome development.
In their remarks, the astronauts said that performing research duties in space for Pakistan is a source of honour, a unique privilege, and a matter of pride.
“They would make every effort to live up to the nation's hopes through hard work and dedication,” they maintained.
Reporter Awais Kiyani