In a development which left a number of social media users in splits, Pakistan federal minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Hussain, tweeted, “Proud to announce that selection process for the first Pakistani to be sent to Space shall begin from Feb 2020, fifty people will be shortlisted — list will then come down to 25 and in 2022 we will send our first person to space,this will be the biggest space event of our history,” yesterday. This came as the funniest thing that people read yesterday given that a country which is finding it hard to sustain its crumbling economy has suddenly started daydreaming about sending an astronaut to Space by 2022. It is too brave a goal for a country which funds most of its infrastructural projects by compromising on territorial sovereignty and integrity.
Proud to announce that selection process for the first Pakistani to be sent to Space shall begin from Feb 2020,fifty people will be shortlisted — list will then come down to 25 and in 2022 we will send our first person to space,this will be the biggest space event of our history
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) July 25, 2019
It is surprising then, that Pakistan has decided to send the first Pakistani men to space in 2022, the same year when India will send Indians to space (although not the first Indian) in its own indigenous mission, Gaganyaan. India sent the first Indian man, Rakesh Sharma in space in 1984 in a Soviet-led mission. How Pakistan plans to carry out the mission has not been revealed yet leading to questions about the seriousness of the plan.
Interestingly, this tweet by Fawad Hussain came shortly after India successfully launched Chandrayaan-2 and ISRO was praised highly all over the world for its historical achievement. Pakistan has been always been more of a reactionary neighbour trying to instill a fake sense of pride in its citizens whenever India achieves something big. As such, Fawad Hussain’s comments did not come as much of a surprise even though he was being highly unrealistic. This goal becomes that much more unrealistic given that Pakistani economy has been in a free fall for quite some time. Its economic growth is forecast to remain lowest in the region and the terror-sponsoring country is all set to fall behind Nepal and Maldives this year. In the last fiscal year itself, Pakistan PM Imran Khan has gone around begging and accumulating borrowings worth a whopping $16 Billion. With its inflation levels sky rocketing, and currency falling down to a miserable level, it is clear that Pakistan’s economy is truly in the doldrums with all indicators going off balance. So far Pakistan has taken 12 bailout packages from IMF and only 1 was completed. The country still owes money to the IMF from previous bailout packages. Recently, IMF agreed to a 13th bailout package of $6 Billion to Pakistan. Pakistan economy is on the verge of bankruptcy and there is no plausible solution in sight.
Twitter users, thus, had a very good time with the Pakistani minister Fawad Hussain making Pakistan a laughing stock, as they wondered whether Pakistan would ever drop its pro-terrorism activities. Many users made references to this trait of the Pakistan administration.
Ab terrorists bhi Space jayenge. 😂😂😂 Selected and trained by ISI and Hizbul Mujahideen.
— Shubham (@Shubhamhundet) July 25, 2019
https://mobile.twitter.com/MuralikrishnaE1/status/1154431371231649792
Yaha koi nahi de raha toh ab Aliens se bheekh maangne bhej rahe ho.
— Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) July 25, 2019
Even as Pakistan’s Science and Technology minister’s tweet served more as a laughing stock and raised several questions about the authenticity of the plan as well as the timing which looks like a close copy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been copying Narendra Modi’s vision and method of connecting with people in order to win popular support from the people of Pakistan.