Namira Salim awaiting official recognition from Pakistan for her space flight
Namira Salim, the first Pakistani woman astronaut to journey into space, has
expressed disappointment over the lack of official recognition for her
groundbreaking achievement. She described her spaceflight as a "larger
than life accomplishment" that involved significant risks to her life.
Salim traveled to space in October 2023 aboard Virgin Galactic’s fifth
successful flight. A seasoned adventurer, she has previously reached both the
North and South Poles and parachuted over Mount Everest. She was among the
early customers to purchase a ticket from billionaire Richard Branson's space
company shortly after it was founded nearly two decades ago.
Having invested her own funds in the $200,000 spaceflight ticket in 2006,
Salim dedicated the years from 2006 to 2023 to participating in various
milestone events related to the development of the company's fleet of
motherships and spaceships across the US and Europe.
Read More Pakistani
woman embarks on space journey aboard Virgin Galactic
Despite the accomplishments of Pakistani figures in sports and entertainment
receiving civilian awards in recent years, no ceremony has been organized to
honor Salim’s high-risk, self-funded space mission, which required 18 years of
her time and resources.
“I must confess with a very heavy heart that my previous civil award
nomination in early 2023 for my contributions to Pakistan’s space sector and
SUPARCO [Pakistan’s Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission] was
unfortunately blocked by a concerned individual at the Ministry of Science and
Technology, despite receiving the highest recommendations and support,” Salim
stated.
She emphasized that her civil award application was merit-based and lamented
the bureaucratic hurdles that prevented its approval. Salim called for greater
visibility and promotion of Pakistan’s space sector.
Read More Pakistan
delegation visits China’s Deep Space Exploration Lab
While she appreciates the recognition she received in 2011 with the
Tamgha-e-Imtiaz civilian award, conferred by then-President Asif Ali Zardari on
the recommendation of former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Salim believes
she deserves official acknowledgment for being the first Pakistani astronaut
and for her relentless efforts to elevate Pakistan's name on the global stage.
Source: Arab
News