🚨🇵🇰 Pakistani space program: faster and more efficient but still dependent on China
Pakistan launched its fifth indigenous satellite into orbit within 16 months – but all launches used Chinese carrier rockets.
Aerospace propulsion engineer Dr. Sarah Qureshi told Sputnik how the program has accelerated.
Tech priorities
Pakistan is not inclined toward core research and development or investment in domestic technologies, and relies heavily on ready-made designs from China.
Why now
A suitable partner has been found in China.
Aerospace, defense and satellite technologies are now united under the Strategic Plans Division, improving coordination.
Modularity means designs no longer need to be built from scratch.
The launch problem
"If a satellite costs a million to build, the rocket to launch it to space costs billions," Qureshi says. "It requires a lot of money and time."
Pakistan is capable of building its own rockets, but no significant budget has been allocated to make it a national priority.
🚨🇵🇰 Pakistan soars toward tech sovereignty with fifth satellite in 'Space Vision 2040' push
Over the past 16 months, Pakistan has launched five satellites. The country's media announced the fifth and most recent successful launch at the end of last week. All five satellites are designed for Earth observation.
Primary uses include:
🔸 Monitoring crops and forecasting agricultural yields
🔸 Assessing soil condition and tracking fertilizer use
🔸 Detecting and controlling unauthorized construction
🔸 Planning transport networks
🔸 Conducting maritime border surveillance and port monitoring
🔸 Supporting geological exploration and mineral detection
🔸 Monitoring water and air pollution
Satellite manufacturing:
All five satellites were built by Pakistan’s domestic aerospace industry. Four of them are entirely indigenous innovations, while one was developed in collaboration with China.
China’s role in the project:
All satellites were launched using Chinese carrier rockets
China also provided technical support, enabling Pakistan to access advanced space technologies while gradually strengthening its own domestic production capabilities
Significance:
The deployment of these five advanced satellites is part of Pakistan’s long-term national strategy, known as "Space Vision 2040." The overarching goal is to achieve full technological sovereignty — enabling Pakistan not only to manufacture its own satellites in the future but also to launch them independently from its own soil.