Pakistan launches fourth Earth observation satellite: Developed in collaboration with China

Pakistan has launched its fourth Earth observation satellite, developed in collaboration with China.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives regarding the satellite launch, Pakistan's Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ihsan Iqbal, in his speech at the launch site, stated that this was not only a technical milestone but also "a moment that takes friendship with China higher than the sky."

On this occasion, Iqbal stated that they have launched a vision that envisions Pakistan's rise as a leading country in space science, and that this vision is strengthened by innovation and reinforced by partnerships.

Iqbal stated that they aim to send a spaceship to the Moon by 2035 and that they aim to position Pakistan as a major player in the international space economy.

Iqbal reminded that space travel was not new and stated that they established the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) in 1961 and that this commission laid the foundations of today's spacecraft.

Noting that bilateral relations between his country and China are progressing positively, Iqbal said that China is Pakistan's reliable partner in all areas, including defence, economy, infrastructure and through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Iqbal stated that relations with China will be taken to a new dimension with cooperation in the space field, and that Pakistan's first indigenous observation satellite, Electro-Optical (EO-1), PAKSAT-1R launched into space in 2011, and PakSat-MM1 launched in 2024 have transformed communication, broadcasting and digital connectivity.

Iqbal also touched upon Pakistan's cooperation with the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), as well as its participation in the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation (APSCO) and the Islamic Countries Space Science and Technology Network (ISNET), and highlighted Pakistan's role in the international arena.

Iqbal stated that the Earth observation satellite will strengthen disaster management, food security and urban planning and that the satellite will symbolically carry the Pakistan-China brotherhood into space.

Iqbal emphasized that the project is an intergovernmental success story, carried out with speed and precision, and noted that the global space economy is projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2040.

Minister Iqbal added that this satellite is a symbol of hope for the people of Pakistan.