Pakistan is set to launch a space programme during the next fiscal year with a target to keep an eye on the Indian side and put down its dependence on foreign satellites for civil and military purposes, according to a media report. Several projects will be started to develop self-reliance capacity and reduce dependence on foreign satellites, mainly the US and French satellites for civil and military communications.
The budget of the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Organization (Suparco) for the upcoming fiscal year 2018-19 is Rs 4.70 billion which includes Rs 2.55 billion for three new projects, the source reported.
Suparco has been regularly conducting activities each year to escalate awareness of space technology and to promote its peaceful usage amongst students and the masses in Pakistan since 2005. The funding includes allocation of Rs 1.35 billion for Pakistan Multi-Mission Satellite (PakSat- MM1) and the country is also planning to establish Pakistan Space Centre in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad with the allocation of Rs 1 billion.
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Advanced space programme is the need of time not only due to growing demand from the civil communications, including the GPS, mobile telephony, and the internet but due to changing scenario in the region also, analysts have said.
“There are two unusual developments in the region affecting the strategic situation — first of all, Pakistan has to keep an eye on the Indian side and previously their programme had limited quality advancements but now the US has active cooperation with the Indian satellite programme,” Maria Sultan, a defense analyst said.
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