Pakistan’s space odyssey

Pakistan, once South Asia’s forefront in space exploration, has long neglected spending and developing the infrastructure facilitating expansion into aerospace. Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has faced considerable challenges, particularly the meager financial resource allocations.

Pakistan’s successful launch of two satellites in July this year, one indigenously developed, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre China shows a silver lining. As per reports, satellite PRSS-1, the first optical remote sensing satellite, which Pakistan bought from China, will help former explore multiple areas, including resources surveying, monitoring of natural disasters and remote sensing information for the Belt and Road region. This new addition of geomantic technology will not only help Pakistan in disaster management but also in hazard mitigation.

The flagship satellite Pakistan Technology Evaluation Satellite-1A co-launched with PRSS-1 was indigenously developed and built by Suparco engineers. The successful launch of 285kgs satellite, with a design life of three years, is indeed a practical demonstration of technical excellence in the field of space technology.

A well-established space programme is necessary not a luxury for Pakistan, particularly when it lags behind in technological advancements in aerospace. In order to reduce dependency on foreign satellites, Pakistan plans to launch an ambitious space programme. The budget of Rs4.70 billion, which has been allotted to the Suparco for the upcoming fiscal year 2018-19, also includes Rs2.55bn for three new projects. The primary objective of these projects is to develop self-reliance capacity in space technology and promote its peaceful usage in socioeconomic sector.

The application of space technology for commercial and economic purposes has drastically increased in recent times. From communication to oceanography and astronomy to modern day commercial satellites, human activity in space has directly benefited lives on earth. Development in telecommunications, global positioning and advancement in weather forecasting are directly linked with space exploration. A robust advancement in space technology has become inevitable for the progress and development of a state.

According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2018 report, Pakistan – the 7^th most vulnerable country to climate change – is highly prone to natural calamities. The diverse nature of climate risks and hazards has already hampered economic progress for many years. To deal with such imminent threats, Pakistan needs to harness indigenous infrastructure and capacity to develop modern day technological appliances, which include communication and remote sensing satellites and other critical technologies, essentially required for disaster mitigation.

Pakistan-China cooperation in space exploration seems ideal in the rapidly changing environment. Although in 1991 China’s Ministry of Aerospace Industry and Suparco signed an agreement on cooperation in space sciences and technology, the momentum of development still appears modest. However, recent launch of satellites proves new stimulus in bilateral cooperation.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2018.

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