Pakistan on Thursday announced that it will send itsfirst astronaut to space in 2022 using close ally China's satellite launchingfacilities.

Pakistan has come up with the decision after Indiasuccessfully launched its second lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 on Monday.

Pakistan Science and Technology Minister FawadChaudhry said that the selection process of the astronaut for the space missionwould start from February 2020.

Chaudhry in a tweet said, "Proud to announce thatselection process for the first Pakistani to be sent to Space shall begin fromFebruary 2020. Fifty people will be shortlisted. The list will then come downto 25 and in 2022 we will send our first person to Space. This will be thebiggest space event of our country."

Chaudhry further said that the Pakistani Air Forcewill play a lead role in the selection process for the space mission.