Pakistan has named its first lunar rover Jinnah 1 as the country prepares to send an indigenous robotic vehicle to the Moon as part of China’s Chang’e 8 mission in 2028. The rover is being developed by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and is expected to contribute to lunar surface exploration, scientific research and technology testing. The mission will mark an important development in Pakistan’s space programme as the country expands its capabilities in planetary exploration and deep space research. SUPARCO has confirmed that the rover will be part of the 2028 mission and will target the lunar south pole, an area of significant interest for international lunar exploration.
Jinnah 1 is being developed under Pakistan’s Lunar Exploration Rover Programme for the Chang’e 8 mission. According to SUPARCO, the rover will weigh approximately 35 kilograms and will be deployed as part of China’s wider lunar exploration effort. Chang’e 8 is connected with the International Lunar Research Station programme, which aims to develop technologies and conduct scientific research relevant to future sustained activity on the Moon. Pakistan’s rover is expected to conduct a range of activities on the lunar surface, including examining lunar soil, mapping the terrain and testing technologies that could support future exploration missions. The rover will carry scientific instruments intended to collect data from the lunar environment, giving Pakistani researchers an opportunity to contribute to an international lunar research programme while developing domestic experience in designing and operating space exploration technology.
The development of Jinnah 1 is part of a broader expansion of Pakistan’s space related programmes under SUPARCO. Government development documents have allocated funding for the Development of Pakistan Lunar Exploration Rover (PLExR) for the Chang’e 8 Mission, with the project listed among SUPARCO’s new development schemes. The 2025 to 2026 Public Sector Development Programme allocated Rs400 million for the rover project, while the total approved project cost was listed at Rs2.535 billion. The government documents indicate that the programme is focused specifically on developing Pakistan’s lunar exploration capability and preparing the rover for participation in the Chang’e 8 mission.
The planned mission will also build on Pakistan and China’s expanding cooperation in space science and technology. SUPARCO has described the lunar rover programme as an opportunity to develop capabilities in lunar surface exploration, scientific research and advanced space technologies. The rover’s planned landing area at the lunar south pole is particularly significant because the region presents challenging terrain while also being considered an important destination for future lunar missions. Through Jinnah 1, Pakistan is expected to gather scientific data while testing technologies designed for operation beyond Earth. The 2028 launch will therefore give SUPARCO an opportunity to participate directly in lunar exploration and develop experience that could contribute to future planetary missions. The project also forms part of Pakistan’s broader space technology development, which includes satellite programmes, Earth observation, deep space astronomical infrastructure and plans for human spaceflight.
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