PAKSAT satellite project manifestation of strengthening Pak-Sino ties: Gilani
LAHORE, Nov 5 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday said the PAKSAT-1R satellite project is yet another manifestation of the long-standing strategic relationship between Pakistan and China, taking their time-tested friendship to new heights. At inauguration of Satellite Ground Control Station & Commencement of PAKSAT-1R Communication Services here, he expressed pleasure that PAKSAT 1R has reached its intended orbit and all subsystems are functioning perfectly well. He said the presence of many Chinese dignitaries in this ceremony is indicative of the commitment of China and the importance it attaches to Pakistan’s space programme.
Application of space technologies is contributing significantly to socio-economic development, he said adding these technologies have also greatly changed the concept of national security of countries
 
“Access to and adoption of these technologies is important for developing countries like Pakistan. It was with this realization in mind that I approved Pakistan’s Space Vision-2040, earlier this year,” he added.
 The successful launching and commissioning of PAKSAT 1R marks the first significant step towards realizing the Space Vision, he noted.
 The Prime Minister said Communication satellites are playing a vital role across the world over in bridging the digital divide between backward and remote areas and urban centres in the fields of health, education, entertainment and communication service delivery.
PAKSAT-1R would help to extend the communication infrastructure to the entire country thus bringing the fruits of socio-economic development to the remotest corners of Pakistan, he mentioned.
 He said SUPARCO’s space applications programme is already contributing to various fields, the significant ones being agriculture, crop monitoring, yield estimation, food and water security, improvement of water courses, monitoring of environment, disaster monitoring and mitigation, land cover use and many others.
Now with the availability of communication satellite PAKSAT-1R, significant strides will be made in these areas to give impetus to all walks of national reconstruction and development, Gilani said.
 The Prime Minister said, “besides playing its fundamental role for extending communication facilities, I would like to urge SUPARCO and other stakeholders to focus more on tele-education and tele-medicine for improving the quality of life in the remote areas.”
 “By doing this, you will be able to extend benefits of the communication satellite services to the less privileged sections of society.”
 After the successful deployment of PAKSAT 1R, he said he directed SUPARCO to focus on the development of Remote Sensing Satellites to ensure that these satellites are developed and launched as envisaged in the Space Vision 2040.
 The Prime Minister urged all federal ministries and provincial departments to fully utilize space technology as an instrument of the socio-economic development.
 “It is indeed crucial, that the space assets that we acquire should be fully utilized for national cause,” he added.
 
The Prime Minister said he was sure that in view of Pakistan’s strategic relationship with China; cooperation in space technology and its applications will also become yet another hallmark of Pakistan-China friendship. 
He said academia has a key role to play to spread knowledge about space technology.
 “Our immediate goal should be that our academic and research institutions incorporate aspects pertaining to space sciences, space technology and their applications in their curricula.”
 “Only then can we expect to generate a breed of space technology savvy human resource that is geared to use space technology to create innovative solutions to the problems of the country,” he added.
 He said a close cooperation, collaboration, coordination and interaction between SUPARCO and Universities can significantly lead to explore all avenues of space technology.
“I am happy to note that SUPARCO, besides other responsibilities, is also making efforts to create awareness about the space technology among the youth,” he added.
 Gilani said the two books launched today for school children, are really a commendable effort and the quality of the books is exceptionally good and measures up to international standards.
 He acknowledged the contribution of the young authors.
“I am certain that these books will be a delightful addition to our school libraries and will generate interest in space related subjects among our children.”
 He urged SUPARCO to make arrangements to extensively publish these books and make them available to all public and private sector institutions.
The Prime Minister announced a prize of Rs 100,000 each for the authors of the books.  
“These young authors hold promise for a bright future and are an ideal for the youth and students,” he remarked.
 He congratulated the entire nation on the success of the PAKSAT-1R project and assured of all-out support of the government of Pakistan to the National Space Programme.
He expressed happiness that SUPARCO is taking the right steps to utilize space technologies to improve the quality of life of the people.   
“I am sure that with the help of our Chinese friends, we will be able to make good progress in harnessing Space Technologies and realizing the goals set in Space Vision 2040,” he added.
 Governor Punjab Sardar Latif Khosa, President Great Wall Industry Yin Liming and SUPARCO Chairman Major General Ahmed Bilal attended the event.