Beijing, Aug. 4 -- Despite starting its space research programme almost a decade earlier than India, Pakistan is gearing up to land a spacecraft on the Moon by 2035, as stated by the country's Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Geo News reported.

The announcement came as the nation currently struggles with the rise of terrorist attacks, basic infrastructure and economic instability.

Speaking during a meeting in Beijing with Chinese officials, including Head of China's Atomic Energy Authority and Space Agency Shan Zhongde, Iqbal called for deeper reliance on China to fill gaps in Pakistan's space and nuclear programs, Geo News reported.

The lunar mission has been tasked to Pakistan's Space and Upper ...