Speaking at the inauguration of the Satellite Ground Control Station and commencement of PAKSAT-1R at Kalashaha Kako, Premier Gilani announced that the satellite had reached its orbit and all systems were functioning perfectly. He added that the project was yet another manifestation of the long-standing strategic relationship between Pakistan and China.
“I am sure that in view of our strategic relationship with China, cooperation in space technology and its applications will become another hallmark of Pakistan-China friendship,” he said.
Talking about the importance of access to and adoption of space technologies in developing countries like Pakistan, the prime minister said, “PAKSAT-1R will bring the fruits of socio-economic development to the remotest corners of Pakistan.”
He further said that the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission’s (Suparco) space applications programme was already contributing to various fields, the significant ones being agriculture, crop monitoring, food and water security, disaster monitoring and mitigation. With the availability of the communication satellite PAKSAT-1R, he added, significant strides would be made in these areas to give impetus to reconstruction and development.
He urged Suparco and other stakeholders to focus more on tele-education and tele-medicine for improving the quality of life in the country’s remote areas. “By doing this, you will be able to extend benefits of the communication satellite services to the less privileged sections of society,” he added.
‘PML-N rally in Lahore doesn’t affect PPP’
Speaking about the country’s heated political scene, Premier Gilani said that political parties should refrain from issuing ‘hurtful’ statements, and added that if the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) wanted to topple the government, “we are ready.” In fact, he added, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would rather welcome them.
Gilani further said that PML-N’s rally would not affect the PPP in Lahore as his party has a hold across the country. The premier said that the PML-N should face criticism with tolerance and patience like the PPP.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2011.
COMMENTS (47)
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@Shyam: So that the media can fool ordinary Pakistanis with captions like "China - Pakistan's all weather friend".. What they sarcastically mean is friend who has given them every thing that they have used in all the weathers over 30 years!! while the one [US which has given them arms to fight us (India) and billions of dollars in bheek] immediately becomes a hostile country because it has made it fight a war of the creation of its 'strategic assets'..
If China was such a good friend I wonder why it doesn't give Pakistan the latest equipment. Why would they send a 30 year old satellite to space for Pakistan, why not a more recent one. Why give Pakistan faulty railway engines when they could have given the ones they run instead?
@Hedgefunder: then why did not u mention india who was poorer and in worst position economically in 1974 when it denoted its first atom bomb. what u mean to say is tbat what india did was right but pakistan wrong.
@antanu g: Its not called ridiculing, but rather constructive criticism !!!! One need to lay foundations first before building a structure,which pakistan seems to forget!!! Provide the people with decent basic needs and than lavish the nation's wealth on more grander projects!!!!
@Hedgefunder: if it is in so poor state then it has more reasons to aspire for betterment and they have taken a step forward....space science is not only ealking to the moon but alsi development of infrastructur like telecom. this will also help etase poverty as bettet infrastructure means better opportunities. and one more thing...u claim to visit pakistan and witnessed so many negatives. even if it is true..who give you right to ridicule them? if u reaaly care contribute in a positive way.
this satellite is made for pakistan not by or indigenous
"PAKSAT-1R: Pakistan's first indigenously made satellite inaugurated" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Two points:
Pls issue a correction!
When is the British government going to put all these bankers and other capitalist parasites in jail for ruining the world economy?
Congratulations. You can now formally claim to be better than Somalia!
Please feed the poor first and given them education and electricity...what a waste of money.
@antanu g: There is nothing about being Biased, when it come to money!! trust me, i know what i am talking about here!! I was there and could not believe the state of the Nation in 2011, comparing to 1975-77, as i use to come there as guest for vacations with my fellow students and likewise they too use to spend the half terms with my family while in UK and in India too. Life in those days was not this complicated, as there was decent standard of education and also a sedular society, which functioned and was buzzing. I spent those vacations in Karachi, and believe me it was no different to Bombay im those days !!! Sadly, just look at the state of affairs in Karachi at present and than tell me who really in their mind would consider investing in the country!
@Santosh: well in 1983 indian economy was far...far of lower status than it is today...dear ...pursuing scientific excellence will always pay. and like our india...it also has tried to to the time tested path. we should encourage it.
@Hedgefunder: well u are simply lying. pakistan has good technical manpower...dont be biased.
For all those who are saying that Pakistan can not launch its own satellite should know that even the combined Europeen GPS satellite, is proposed to be launched from a Russian site. No big deal. You should just know what you want and achieve the targets.
The Geostationary satellite will orbit 36000km above the earth surface and not 23000km as informed by Chinese and repeated by our Scientists and believed by our politicians. As this satellite is made in China, it may be like any other electronic equipment 'made in China'
I am not surprised that it has taken so long for Suparco to achieve relatively so little. During the late eighties and early nineties I supervised two Ph D research students sponsored by Suparco. Both of them were nice young men but did not have a clue as to what research is about. It took them six years each, with a very great deal of detailed help, to complete their Ph D's, something that should not have taken more than 4 years. My conclusion of these two pieces of research supervision, "Corruption and favouritism, not the aptitude for research, had led to the selection of these two individuals as researchers who, I honestly believe, were as thick as two short planks."
@antanu g
Care to give link to the source of your statistics?
@fahim: My dear our scientists can do much better job. Problem is not technology. Problem is Money. In space program so much money is required. If suparco can design and create rockets then they can also make satellite and other space things. It depends how much money govt. of Pakistan allocate for the space and research program.
Nearly every country who are in Space programs taking help from other countries. Look at the indian space program whole Europe is helping them.
What is wrong if we get help from china in start then we can develop our own satellite and improve our space program from different levels.
I think for Knowledge we should take every little help from different countries. Space program can also help for human benefit.
@Terrorising and true:
God you sound so dumb. It's about priorities. Bomb was the priority to maintain deterrence.
who are we fooling? 99% of the satellite is builit by CHINA on a 40 year old platform Dong Fang 4... an obsolete technology. It will be launched by a chinese launcher.. whats to be proud here? .. Where are all our scientists? Not even a single name is out in public.
@antanu g: The poor unlike the rich have nothing to waste. The poor can have ambitions but should make sure that they succeed and use less resources like money, oil etc when doing so. The rich are not obligated to do that, but the poor are bound by their situation to make fewer mistakes. The first Indian Satellite INSAT 1 B was launched in August 1983. A lot of progress has been made since then. However the PAKSAT is just now being launched. A huge span of almost over 30 years. If Suparco takes this long to do something long before done, it is obviously not efficient. And Pakistan, like India being a poor nation hardly has money to waste. Perhaps the right comment is not to stop pursuing the satellite program. A nation must try and progress. But what is happening now in its name, is definitely not giving you timely results. This must stop because your nation cannot afford it. May be it is time to look for new avenues. Co operation with other nations, not just China.
@g: You did not get the point , i notice!!!! Well , yes you are right , there is no FDI in Pakistan, due to serious lack of Safety, Security or Infrastructure , let alone a trained or skilled workforce!!! I was there early this year with UK Trade delegation sponsered by CBI, and saw it first hand as to the state of affairs in the country.
@Hedgefunder: more than 70% of indians are living without electricity and potable water....so what about india which has an advanced space programme. my dear commentator india made its presence felt in the world through infotech and reaped economic boost
How come everything precious ends up in Takht-e-Lahore? Is Takht-e-Lahore paying for the satellite costs?
Congratulation to All Pakistanis. Welcome to the world of SPACE. Please channelise your energy towards advancements and contribute to world in positive way. This is first little step in that direction.
You should be the first nation in the world who say "Pakistan's first indigenously made satellite inaugurated" after having celebrated the nuclear bomb at the expense of 'eating grass' and exactly 13 years later!!!
So the question really is "How does a nation manufacture a nuclear bomb when it does not even have the technology to make a satellite until 13 years after the nuke was made?"..
Looking above all comments made by indians. it seems sheer case of jealousy and non-approval that how can Pakistan develop a satellite by its own.
Its not Pakistanis fault if you guys are brainwashed by your "peace-loving" media
@Hedgefunder: Until Pakistan can supply gas and electricity to it's entire population it should stop making satellites. Until everyone in Pakistan enjoys 3 meals a day we should divert resources from the provision of such luxuries as electricity and gas. In fact the very existence of computers in Pakistan is an insult to the poor. We should all sell our belongings, give the proceeds to the poor and live in mud shacks with them.
One thing I am absolutely certain about is that there is no room for hedge funds in Pakistan. When we are done with these reforms no one will have any excess money to invest. We will all be equally poor.
@Independent from London: pakistan can't launch satellite, it will be launch by china.
China had a big part to play in 'indigenously made' satelite.
bravo pak has done it, in india collages are making theses toys, what the fuzz.........
Great now AZAN from space
Utter lie is saying it indigenous ... !!!
Well its a good start and hope that they will further improve Pakistan space tecnology, BUT Pakistan should have dedicated resources, labour and funds on people hit by flood then on rockets, People living on tea to survive in Badin is just acceptable Their priority is so confused. or simply the suffering people dont matter.
How could it have been done thirty years back when this time also it was made on Chinese DongFangHong-4 platform? It just means thats it's a indigenous replica of chinese sattelite done under chinese supervision in pakistan.
And for those who might be interested, DongFangHong-4 was launched in 1975. Nearly 40 years in space technology means truly truly old.
Nonetheless a start is always good.
"The PAKSAT-1R weighs 5,115kg and is based on the DongFangHong-4 platform"
"The satellite was launched on August 11 on board China’s Satellite Launch Vehicle"
Where is indigenousness here?
This is ridiculous height of symbolism, when it can not even provide basic electricity & gas supply to its people !!!!!
Now all stranded railway passengers will be transported in a space technology capsule
probably not fully indigenously made, but at-least it's a start to hopefully better technological advances in Pakistan.
Bravo!!
Correction 1: it has 30 transponders (18 in Ku band; 12 in C band) Correction 2: it was launched on 11 August 2100 hours. Correction 3: it covers a part of Eastern Europe not Western.
Pakistan can launch satellites and make nukes but can not maintain PIA planes and repair Pakistan railways engines. Incomprehensible.
What???
:O
A good news from Pakistani Media???
Unbelievable!!!
Thanks by the way!
:)
Now Pakistanis willbe on moon...literally in 5 years....all the decision of world will be made in Pakistan....