ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is planning to launch an ambitious space programmeduring the next fiscal year (2018-19) at a cost of Rs 4.7 billion in apossible bid to “keep an eye on the Indian side”. The move has beennecessitated following active US cooperation with the Indian satelliteprogramme.
Pakistani defence analyst Maria Sultan has said, “There are two unusualdevelopments in the region effecting the strategic situation — first of allPakistan has to keep an eye on Indian side and previously their programmehad limited quality advancements but now the US has active cooperation withthe Indian satellite programme.”
The report further said that Pakistan’s space programme is being pursued toreduce the country’s dependency on foreign satellites for civil as well asmilitary purposes.Pakistani authorities have allocated Rs 4.7 billion to the Space and UpperAtmosphere Research Organisation (SUPARCO). This includes the cost of threenew projects worth Rs 2.55 billion, said the report.
Pakistan Multi-Mission Satellite (PakSat- MM1), to be built at the cost ofRs 1.35 billion, is also a part of the project.
The neighbouring country is also planning Pakistan Space Centre in Karachi,Lahore and Islamabad, established at an investment of Rs 1 billion. A SpaceApplication Research Centre is also being planned in Karachi at the cost ofRs 200 million in the next fiscal year (2018-19).