Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has approved Pakistan Space Policy and it is likely to be presented in National Assembly for its consideration and approval soon, Chairman, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), Major General Ahmed Bilal informed business community on Thursday.
Giving a presentation of SUPARCO at Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he admitted that in first 40 years since its inception very little work has been done of in space research. He said that in many countries of the world space related businesses are generating billions of dollars whereas Pakistan is lagging behind in this area.
He said that emphasis in the policy has been placed on educating students about its benefit for the nation. It is proposed that space education should be made compulsory in schools and colleges. The chairman said that a pilot project of agriculture crop monitoring through satellite was launched in 2005, which was a big success and now its ambit has been extended.
Ahmed Bilal said SUPARCO has developed technology to collect detailed of land hooding by using satellite and a programme has also been launched to digitalise land-holding record. He informed that he has written a letter to Sindh Government to digitalise its land-holding record.
Replying a question, he said that it has been suggested that minimum land holding should be fixed at 12.5 acres. Replying another question, he said that SUPARCO has given 50 Research and Development (R&D) projects to various universities in the country and added that around 200 projects will be passing to various universities next year.
Replying to energy crises in the country, he said that SUPARCO has prepared comprehensive data and pin pointed where water reservoirs can be built and areas suitable for wind-power generators. He suggested that it should be made mandatory for all new upcoming constructions in upper society like defence areas that they should generate at least 10 percent of their energy by using solar panels. The cost of the panels should be added in cost of construction and some relief should be given in property tax.
The chairman said SUPARCO acquires and archives satellite data from different earth resources satellites. The data products and related services are offered to different user agencies within and outside Pakistan. He said SUPARCO's Satellite Ground Station, located at Rawat near Islamabad, has an acquisition zone of approximately 2,500km radius and covers Pakistan and 25 other countries, wholly or partially, in the South Asian, Central Asian and Western Asian/Middle East regions.
Ahmed Bilal said that the organisation has mandate to conduct R&D in space science, space technology, and their peaceful applications in the country. It works towards developing indigenous capabilities in space technology and promoting space applications for socio-economic uplift of the country.
Undertake research and conduct pilot studies based on the applications of Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS) data and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to natural resources surveying, mapping and environmental monitoring. He said SUPARCO provides technical assistance for collaborative research/commercial projects and conducts technical training in the related fields of SRS and GIS for users / organisations in public and private sectors. Under GIS applications programme, SUPARCO has developed databases pertaining to various thematic applications for a large number of customers. It has been pursuing a multidisciplinary Satellite Remote Sensing and GIS application programme for resource and environmental surveying/monitoring and management for socio-economic development of the country.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.