Pakistan, in spite of being a nuclear power, has limited space capabilities and has not been able to build or launch its own satellite to date. Space technology is now considered as fourth dimension of warfare and Pakistan’s dependence on space applications and information is likely to increase for exploration of mineral resources and environmental processes. However, Pakistan lags far behind many other South Asian countries, particularly India, in the space race. Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, SUPARCO, took a good start in 1961 and began to move forward but couldn’t maintain developments. Economic challenges, poor governance and serious global sanctions that SUPARCO suffered from account for diminutive progress in space research field. The only significant advancements made by SUPARCO are in development of military missiles.
In such state of affairs the only ray of hope, for us, is SUPARCO’S 2040 Space Programme, to emerge as a space faring nation.
SIDRA TALHA
Karachi