ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) on Thursday announced “Jinnah-1” as the official name of the country’s first lunar rover.

The rover is scheduled to be sent to the Moon in 2029 as part of China’s Chang’e-8 mission, where it will conduct scientific research at the lunar south pole. The Moon’s south pole is known for its challenging terrain and potential to yield significant scientific discoveries.

At a ceremony held in Islamabad, Suparco said that the name was selected from 4,000 proposals received in a countrywide competition.

Seven participants had proposed the name “Jinnah-1” and the winner was selected through a lucky draw, according to a statement from Suparco.

Tayyab Karim, a 17-year-old from Bahawalnagar, was declared the winner for proposing the name, Suparco said.

The name pays tribute to Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and symbolises “Pakistan’s resolve, progress and new space horizons”, Suparco chairman said.

Jinnah-1 will study lunar surface’s geology and conduct key experiments related to future lunar research.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2026