Islamabad, April 30: Pakistan will launch an ambitious space programme in the next fiscal year. The primary aim of this launch is to reduce its dependency on foreign satellites for civil and military purposes. In addition to this, the satellite will also keep an eye on the Indian side.

According to news agency PTI, Pakistan is to initiate several projects to develop self-reliance capacity and to reduce dependence on foreign satellites, especially the United States and French satellites. The budget of the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Organisation (Suparco) for the upcoming fiscal year 2018-19 is Rs 4.70 billion which includes Rs 2.55 billion for three new projects, reported Pakistan news daily, The Dawn News. Since 2005 regular activities have been conducted each year by Suparco to increase awareness of space technology and to promote its peaceful usage amongst students and the masses in Pakistan.

The funds of Rs 1.35 billion has been allocated for Pakistan Multi-Mission Satellite (PakSat- MM1). Pakistan is also planning to establish Pakistan Space Centre in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. The total fund allocation for setting up space centre is Rs 1 billion. Besides this, the third project is establishing Space Application Research Centre in Karachi. The budget of Rs 200 million in 2018-19 is to be allocated for the research centre, The Dawn News reported.

PakSat-MM1 will cost Rs 27.57 billion, while the cost of space centres is Rs 26.91 billion, the report added. Maria Sultan, a defence analyst told PTI, "There are two unusual developments in the region affecting the strategic situation first of all Pakistan has to keep an eye on the Indian side and previously their programme had limited quality advancements but now the US has active cooperation with the Indian satellite programme.”

Pakistan is aggressively working towards advance space programme because of the growing demand to improve civil communications, including GPS technology.The changing scenario in the region is also pushing Pakistan for adopting a policy to enhance its space programme.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 30, 2018 09:34 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).