According to Baig, Pakistan and China have strong scientific ties and have worked together on a number of projects over the past few years.
The 13-year-old and students from various Pakistani schools as well as those from other SCO members got the chance to communicate virtually with Chinese astronauts in space during an event held on Thursday at the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad.
“It also inspired me to want to become an astronaut. Chinese astronaut gave a very thorough explanation of his spacecraft lifestyle and the Chinese space station. I’ll research China’s space programme in greater detail and pursue a career in space sciences, “stated Fatima.
Nida Fatima, a Pakistani seventh-grader, has been studying space and astronaut life in spaceships ever since her teacher informed her last month about China’s Tiangong space station and the latest advancements in space science technology. Fatima, a pupil at the Educators Islamabad school, admitted to Xinhua that she knew little about space.
However, when her teacher informed her that China has not only made a name for itself in space technology but is also willing to share its expertise with other nations like Pakistan, it piqued her interest even more. On April 20, 2023, an event in Beijing featuring virtual interactions with Chinese astronauts in space is attended by students from SCO member nations.
As soon as the astronaut appeared on the screen, the students greeted him with enthusiastic applause, and some of them even slightly jumped out of their seats with excitement because it was each student’s first time speaking and listening to an astronaut in space.
Shahid Mahmood Baig, president of the Pakistan Science Foundation stated that the majority of students in Pakistan choose to study engineering or medical sciences due to a lack of awareness; however, there is almost no preference for them in other scientific fields.
Since space science is a very unique field of study and only a small percentage of Pakistani students choose to pursue it, the ceremony’s goal was to encourage and motivate students to pursue science.
According to Baig, Pakistan and China have strong scientific ties and have worked together on a number of projects over the past few years. They also ask China for assistance in educating Pakistani students about space sciences.
He continued, “Young students had a wonderful experience today, and now they are more inclined to study space science and other cutting-edge scientific disciplines in the future. We will need China’s support to help our students realise their dream of studying space sciences by allowing them to study in China.”
Alizay, a seventh-grader from a government-run school in Islamabad, had the opportunity to ask the Chinese astronaut a question.
She was shocked when he responded to her directly from the Chinese space station. It was incredibly memorable for her to be able to speak with the astronaut, she told Xinhua. “I asked the astronaut how they breathe in space, and he answered my query in a very detailed way.