ISLAMABAD — A monument honoring Yuri Gagarin, the world’s first cosmonaut, was unveiled on Friday at Fatima Jinnah Park (F-9 Park) in Islamabad. The ceremony was attended by Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Power Awais Leghari, Russian Ambassador Albert P. Khorev, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, and Russian pilot-cosmonaut and national hero Elena Serova.
Speaking at the event, Minister Tsivilev described Gagarin’s historic spaceflight as “the greatest feat in our shared history,” adding that thousands of scientists continue to advance space research globally. “Let this work benefit all countries of the world,” he said.
Tsivilev also announced that Islamabad will host a Russia-Pakistan conference next year focused on the development of cosmonautics and space infrastructure, further expanding bilateral cooperation in science and technology.
The inauguration of the monument coincided with the 10th meeting of the Russia-Pakistan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation.
The Russian Embassy in Islamabad expressed gratitude to the International Charitable Fund “Dialogue of Cultures — United World” for donating the bust of Yuri Gagarin, the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange for its support in installation, and Pakistani authorities for facilitating the project.
