Pakistan has come somewhat late to the satellite sector; however, the Prime Minister’s office says it is looking to raise some $700 million from its new ‘Paksat Program’.
Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division (SPD) prepared a summary for the Prime Minister’s review in March of 2019 to address the voids related to sustainability of the National Space Program (NSP), which was an all-encompassing program envisaging developments in the field of space and having direct linkages with the strategic program.
Data from Pakistan says that the total authorized satellite capacity usage in the country about 2,200 MHz, out of which 21 percent is on its own satellites and the rest on foreign craft.
Pakistan calculates that a minimum of $35-$40 million annually is leaving the country. The draft policy targets $600-$700 million of revenues in the period to 2030.
“This summary was presented to the cabinet which, after discussion, asked for placing it before the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC). The summary has been sent to the economic decision-making body. This is in national interest and in line with similar policies in a number of countries. It will save foreign exchange and help utilize the investment made in the national satellite program,” said the government’s IT Secretary, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui.
Article posted by journalist Chris Forrester at the
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Chris is also a Senior Contributor for Satnews Publishers.