ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed Pakistan’s eagerness to enhance cooperation with China in space technology, satellites, telecommunications, and satellite internet during a meeting with a delegation from the Chinese space technology company, Galaxy Space, on Tuesday. The delegation, led by Chairman Xu Ming, discussed opportunities for joint projects with Pakistani space institutions and private telecom companies.
Prime Minister Sharif emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to advancing its space technology sector. The delegation members, appreciative of the warm hospitality, shared that their meetings with officials from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) were highly productive.
The meeting, attended by key officials including Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Advisor to PM Dr. Tauqir Shah, highlighted Pakistan’s growing focus on space-related advancements. Earlier this year, Pakistan successfully launched its first indigenous Electro Optical Satellite (EOS) from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, aimed at providing timely updates on natural disasters like floods, landslides, and earthquakes.
Pakistan also made strides in space exploration with the launch of the iCube Qamar satellite to the moon last year. PM Sharif noted that this was a significant milestone in the country’s space journey. Furthermore, satellite internet services, such as Starlink, are expected to launch in Pakistan by November or December. A Chinese company, Shanghai SpaceCom, has also applied for a satellite internet license in Pakistan.
