Pakistan has signed an initial cooperation agreement with China to join their lunar base programme. The agreement was witnessed by Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing. The collaboration will cover various aspects of the Chinese lunar base programme, including engineering and operations. China has already secured partnerships with Russia, Venezuela, and South Africa as it aims to become a major space power by 2030. The target for China is to land its astronauts on the moon by the end of the decade.
China’s lunar base project aligns with NASA’s Artemis programme, which aims to put US astronauts back on the lunar surface by December 2025. This partnership between Pakistan and China signals a significant development in the global space race, with countries increasingly looking to establish a presence on the moon. Pakistan’s involvement in the lunar base programme will provide them with technological advancements and research opportunities. It also showcases China’s growing influence in space exploration and its willingness to collaborate with other nations in achieving its ambitious goals.
The south pole of the moon is a strategically important location for lunar exploration, as it is believed to contain water ice and other valuable resources. Establishing a research station in this area will allow scientists to conduct experiments, study the moon’s geology, and potentially pave the way for future human missions. China’s lunar base programme is a crucial step towards its long-term goal of becoming a dominant player in space exploration and establishing a permanent human presence on the moon.
