Pakistan has set its sights on the moon by 2035. Before that, it plans to send its first astronaut to China’s space station in 2026. But here’s the catch—Islamabad’s grand space dreams rely heavily on Beijing’s support. Pakistan’s space agency, SUPARCO, hasn’t yet managed to launch a single satellite on its own. So, it’s no secret that Pakistan knows it can’t go it alone in space.

From nuclear research to technology, China has always been Pakistan’s go-to ally. Now, they’re banking on “Made in China” to conquer space too. During a recent visit to China, Pakistan’s Minister Ahsan Iqbal met with Beijing officials and announced on Monday that SUPARCO will spearhead the planning for this ambitious mission. But the truth is, all the tech know-how will come from China. In an emotional speech, Iqbal laid out bold goals, though it’s clear Pakistan can’t take a single step without China’s help.

So far, Pakistan has launched three satellites into space, but even those were made possible with China’s assistance. With plans for a lunar mission in 2035 and an astronaut in space by 2026, Pakistan is dreaming big.

Meanwhile, India is racing ahead with ISRO, hitting new milestones in space exploration. Pakistan, on the other hand, is in a sorry state. Its economy is crumbling, and after India’s successful lunar landing, Pakistani MP Syed Mustafa Kamal stood up in parliament and painted a grim picture: “The world is reaching the moon, but look at Karachi. Children are dying in garbage dumps. Just two seconds after India set foot on the moon, we got news of a child dying in a pile of trash. Every three days, we hear of another child’s death.” Against this backdrop, a debt-ridden Pakistan is making a desperate bid to rival India, hitching a ride on China’s coattails to reach the moon.