Skip to main content

Pakistan Successfully Launches New Remote Sensing Satellite from China

Pakistan's New space Program
KARACHI: Pakistan has successfully launched its latest remote sensing satellite into orbit from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Centre (XSLC), the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) announced on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s expanding space program.

According to a spokesperson for the national space agency, the new satellite is expected to support national capabilities in Earth observation, agricultural monitoring, and environmental analysis.

The satellite was launched in collaboration with the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) and MICROSAT China.

The satellite will also contribute to geospatial and monitoring of strategic initiatives such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), assist with regional planning, and support natural resource management efforts.

The Suparco spokesperson added that the satellite will help identify transportation networks and geographical hazards.

According to the agency, this is Pakistan’s second remote sensing satellite after PRSS-1, which was launched in 2018. With the addition of the new satellite, five Pakistani satellites are now operational in orbit, strengthening national capacity in space-based monitoring and disaster management.

The launch comes as part of Pakistan’s broader National Space Policy and Vision 2047.

According to Suparco, the new satellite is equipped with state-of-the-art imaging systems and will assist in predicting and mitigating natural disasters, including floods, earthquakes, landslides, and glacier melt.

Suparco has said the satellite is equipped with advanced imaging systems capable of round-the-clock data acquisition, designed to aid precision agriculture, disaster response, urban planning, and climate surveillance.

Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal congratulated the nation on the successful launch and praised the Suparco team, engineers, and scientists for their achievement.

Iqbal said that the satellite had successfully reached its orbit and expressed gratitude for China’s strong support in making the mission possible.

In a message shared on X, Iqbal described the launch as “another URAAN of Pakistan,” and declared it “another proud moment for our nation.”

He said the mission reflects the “dedication and excellence of Suparco and its brilliant team,” and asserted that the milestone “not only strengthens Pakistan’s capabilities in space exploration but also takes Pakistan–China Iron Brotherhood beyond the skies.”

He further stated that Pakistan would restore its leadership role in space technology and revealed that next year, with Chinese assistance, a Pakistani astronaut would be sent into space.

Iqbal also announced that Pakistan aims to successfully complete its programme to reach the Moon by 2035.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an official press release, declared the launch a “major milestone for space exploration and technological progress,” reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to innovation and sustainable development.

Earlier, Suparco had stated that the satellite would play a pivotal role in sustainable development by improving resource management, supporting precision agriculture, and facilitating urban and regional planning.

The mission builds on a decade of progress since the 2011 launch of PakSat-1R, followed by PakTES-1A and PRSS-1 in 2018. In 2024, the country achieved another milestone with the launch of PakSat-MM1, providing high-speed internet to remote areas.

Pakistan’s first student-built lunar satellite, iCube Qamar, also made global headlines with its images of the Moon’s surface.

Most recently, in January 2025, Pakistan launched its first fully indigenous satellite, Electro-Optical Satellite EO-1, developed entirely by local engineers and scientists, designed for agriculture, disaster monitoring, and environmental analysis.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Army chief assures business community of ‘complete support’ for economic uplift

Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday assured the business community of the army’s “complete support” for the economic uplift of the country. He made this assurance during a meeting with businessmen who called on him at the General Headquarters today, according to a statement by the military’s media affairs wing. A delegation of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and the army chief discussed the “evolving regional economic environment” as well as the FPCCI’s role in the development of commercial and industrial hubs in Pakistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. During the meeting, Gen Bajwa appreciated the role of the business community in the economic uplift of the country and affirmed all-out support of the army in this regard. The delegation, meanwhile, acknowledged the Pakistan Army’s role and sacrifices in the provision of a "secure enabling environment" for economic prosperity in the country, acco...

3rd U-19 Women T20: South Africa beat Pakistan by 52 runs

In the third T20 of the five-match series in Karachi, South Africa Under-19 women's team defeated Pakistan Under-19 women's team by 52 runs tonight. Batting first, South Africa Under-19 women's team scored 158 runs for the loss of six wickets in allotted 20 overs. In reply, Pakistan Under-19 women's team were all out for 106 runs in 18 overs. South Africa lead the series 2-1.

Military court case: SC rejects govt plea for constitution of full court bench

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has rejected a government plea to constitute a full court bench to decide the issue of civilian trials in military courts. The government had urged the court to set up a full court on the question. The was heard by a six-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, which reserved its judgment on Tuesday. The bench ruled that judges were not available for the constitution of full court bench due to summer vacations. The bench includes Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha Malik. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court remarked during the hearing yesterday (on Tuesday) that there should be an independent body to review whether the arrests were made on valid grounds or not. The attorney general of Pakistan submitted the details of 102 people who face military trials to the court. Justice Mazahir Naqvi said in his remarks why other accused in the same case ...