The Ministry of IT and Telecom has prepared the initial draft of the National Space Policy.
According to the sources in the Ministry of IT and Telecom, the Ministry of IT and Telecom has prepared a draft of the National Security Policy and shared it with various ministries for feedback.
Sources told ProPakistani that the Ministry of IT and Telecom has told SIFC that coordination with other ministries on the National Space Policy is ongoing. The draft National Space Policy is in the consultation stage, the ministry will also seek from Industry, Academia, and other stakeholders.
Sources said Pakistan has no space policy to date, due to which the country is facing difficulty in achieving a wide range of civil and military objectives in economics, commercial, and scientific domains. The National Space Policy (NSP) will determine the direction of Pakistan in the field of space. The policy will aim to enhance the role of the space sector, promote mission activities, and increase partnerships between research, education, start-ups, and industry.
Sources say that a National Space Council has been proposed under the National Space Policy. Three to four different types of licenses will be issued to fully cover the space sector. The satellite framework is ready in the Ministry of IT and Telecom, after this policy, the satellite framework will be approved, after which the satellite licenses will be issued.
The issue of space policy came into the limelight after Starlink’s license application. At present, PTA, PEMRA, and Civil Aviation issue their own licenses, but the proper mechanism for the license for satellites, onboard connectivity, Thuraya sets, and others, hence, the first space policy was thought of.
According to the sources, the government wants to monetize space technology and increase its share in the global space economy by expanding national space infrastructure and taking onboard the private sector.
The global space economy is expected to reach US$600 billion in the next two years and it is expected to cross US$1 trillion by 2040. The government of neighboring India has also recently approved a space policy in 2023.
First remove the General of Pakistan Army who is heading Pakistan’s space program. A General of Pakistan Army has nothing to do with SUPARCO. No policy will work Until you will not implement Merit. Learn from India where Aerospace Engineers and Space Scientists are heading ISRO. Supremacy of Merit is the main issue here in Pakistan. Incompetent Idiots are trying to run our organisations.