Pakistan’s national space agency, Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), is reportedly relying heavily on China for its space program instead of pursuing independent research, as per a report by The Diplomat. Despite facing economic challenges like inflation and energy shortages, Pakistan has accelerated its space endeavors with Chinese assistance, launching five indigenous satellites in the last 16 months. The country is also gearing up to send its first astronaut to China’s Tiangong space station.
Recent developments indicate a deep integration of Pakistan’s space aspirations with China’s space program, raising concerns about Pakistan’s ability to achieve significant technological advancements independently. The report emphasized the importance of Pakistan altering its course to progress in the space domain beyond its current reliance on Chinese support.
Pakistan’s astronaut candidates are undergoing training in China for a mission to a Chinese space station, and all recent satellite launches have taken place from Chinese facilities. SUPARCO’s upcoming lunar rover program, slated for a 2028 landing, is expected to heavily depend on Chinese technological expertise and support, highlighting the extent of collaboration between the two countries in space exploration.
The report highlighted the surprising nature of Pakistan’s recent space developments, noting the historical underfunding and stagnation of SUPARCO over the past two decades. Despite being overshadowed by neighboring space agencies like the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Pakistan’s space initiatives focus on disaster monitoring, urban planning, agricultural surveillance, and glacier tracking. These programs also serve security purposes in response to India’s advancements in space technology, although SUPARCO still lags significantly behind ISRO in terms of operational capacity and achievements.
