Talking to the UAE ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahimi Al-Zaabi, who called on him in Islamabad, Fawad Chaudhary emphasized the need to enhance the partnership and cooperation between Islamabad and Abu Dhabi.
He said, “The government desires to establish a research center decorated with modern standards in the country.” On the occasion, the UAE envoy assured the minister of full cooperation and support from his country.
Earlier in the day, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry had said Pakistan would send its first citizen into space by 2022 following a selection process.
The minister took to Twitter and had announced that the selection process to find a perfect astronaut would begin from the next year. “Proud to announce that selection process for the first Pakistani to be sent to Space shall begin from Feb 2020,” he had wrote.
In the selection process, “Fifty people will be shortlisted,” and the list will then further come down to 25 persons, the minister had said.