Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Pakistani astronauts Khurram Dawood and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali on Thursday and expressed his best wishes for the astronauts, while the astronauts said they would make every effort to fulfil the hopes of the nation.

Astronaut Attaché Hasnain Iftikhar and the Chinese ambassador were also present in the meeting.

PM Shehbaz expressed his happiness over the meeting and said that going on a space mission for research is an important milestone for Pakistan and a source of pride for the entire nation.

He said the astronauts would write a new chapter in Pakistan’s history and praised their hard work and dedication, saying they had achieved their position through day-and-night effort.

He said the space journey with Chinese cooperation would add new dimensions to the brotherly relations between the two countries.

Speaking to the Chinese ambassador, the PM said Pakistan and China’s cooperation in space research would take friendship to new heights, adding that both countries were moving forward together to reach the stars.

The Chinese ambassador welcomed the prime minister’s views and termed bilateral cooperation in space research welcome.

The astronauts said performing research duties in space was a matter of honour and a unique privilege.