Future of Space Research in Pakistan : Bright or Dark

[Ababeel]

As much as I know from information got through various sources, some thing was happening in Pak space research since 1960s, e.g. Launch of Sounding Rockets, imported and indigenous, then the Launch of Rockets, 450 km range with 50 kg payload and 600km range with 150kg payload, then came the start of Pak missile era when Pakistan start testing its missiles, HATF-1,2,3, SHAHEEN-1,2, GHAURI-1,2, BABUR-1,2 then came the launch of 2 indigenous satellites, BADR-1 & 2. Later I heard may be around 1989 that KRL is going to test the first SLV of PAkistan but uptil now nothing has happened and for last 5 years or so all of a sudden the space research program seems stagnant. What are the reasons, why Pakistan not able to start joint research with even China which is so advance in this field and an all weather friend.
And last but not least after developing IRBMs and 2 small research satellites why Pakistan is not able to march ahead in developing SLVs and Communication, Remote Sensing satellites till now.
Who is to blame for this, Govt policies, monetary problems, or secret US and western sanctions in high technology or dual technology fields?
I specially request Neo and Web Master to put light on this questions and also on other future plans if they are aware of any. Similarly when I carried out a comparison, I think that Iran now looks more ahead of Pakistan in SLV and satellite research. What you guys think ?

 

[Adux]

Who is to blame for this, Govt policies, monetary problems, or secret US and western sanctions in high technology or dual technology fields?

Secret CIA/MI6 led Candlestine sanctions on Pakistan.

 

[Neo]

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Launch of Paksat-IR approved:

CDWP approves 12 nuclear, conventional energy projects

* Approves 69 development projects worth Rs 97.9 billion

By Sajid Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Monday approved a project for the launch of Pakistan’s first communication satellite system (Paksat-IR) in collaboration with China, a senior official told Daily Times, adding that the meeting also approved 12 important projects related to nuclear and conventional energy.

Dr Akram Sheikh, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, presided over the CDWP meeting. Later briefing the media, Asif Sheikh, spokesman for the Planning and Development Division, said that the CDWP had approved a total of 69 development projects worth Rs 97.9 billion and recommended another 19 development projects worth Rs 82 billion for approval to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

According to the senior official, the projects related to the launch of Pakistan’s first communication satellite including an approval of Rs 439.817 million for the Satellite Bus Development Facility project; Rs 323.612 million for Development of a Satellite Assembly Integration and Test (SAINT) facility; Rs 96.588 million for establishment of a SAINT support workshop; Rs 733.177 million for the Paksat project (Phase-1) extension; Rs 41 million for establishment of an Atmosphere Data Receiving and Processing Centre (ADRPC); Rs 13.94 billion for Paksat-IR; and Rs 178 million for upgrading the precision machine shop. The official said that Pakistan and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the launch of Paksat-IR during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s recent visit to Pakistan.

Another important project approved in the meeting was the President’s Education Sector Reforms Programme (provision of missing links) with an allocation of Rs 24 billion.

Sheikh said that 36 projects related to infrastructure development were approved with an allocation of Rs 62.3 billion. He added that Rs 25.4 billion was allocated for 19 social sector-related projects while Rs 6.9 billion was allocated for agriculture and science and technology projects.

The projects approved include nine for transport and communication, 12 for energy, 13 for physical planning and housing, two for social sector, nine for higher education, three for IT, manpower and population, four for governance and environment, one for nutrition, five for agriculture, eight for science and technology, and one for trade and industry.

He said that 12 projects with an allocation of Rs 3.9 billion were approved for Punjab, eight projects of Rs 14.5 billion for Sindh, eight projects of Rs 2.7 billion for the NWFP, three projects of Rs 10 million for Balochistan and one project of Rs 500 million was approved for the Northern Areas. He added that 37 projects of Rs 76.2 billion were approved for all Pakistan, which also include a foreign exchange component of Rs 23.4 billion.

An official who spoke to Daily Times on condition of anonymity said the allocations made for the energy sector projects included Rs 1.040 billion for the rehabilitation of the JABBAN Hydro Power Station; Rs 120.376 million for the Phandar Hydro Power Project’s detailed engineering design and preparation of tender documents; Rs 1.473 billion for the establishment of an Engineering Design Organisation for implementation of a nuclear power programme; Rs 960.7 million for the establishment of nuclear power fuel testing project and complex; Rs 2.4 billion for establishment of a Seamless Tube Plant-1 for the Pakistan Nuclear Power Fuel Complex; Rs 2.804 billion for establishment of a fuel fabrication plant (FFP) for the Pakistan Nuclear Power Fuel Complex; Rs 4.531 billion for exploration of uranium in Pakistan; Rs 43.540 million for upgrading KANUPP Institute of Nuclear Power Engineering (KINPOE) infrastructure; Rs 538.794 million for upgrading the CHASNPP Centre for Nuclear Training; and Rs 380 million for the establishment of national dosimetry and protection level calibration laboratory.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\05\01\story_1-5-2007_pg7_13

 

[XYON]

Pakistan needs to create an ''environment'' in order to give its rather small space program a push! My suggestion is simple. Select a few good men from our Air Force. Send them to the STAR COSMONAUT TRAINING ACADEMY (by roughly spending around US$25 million each) to train them as cosmonauts and allowing them to fly a mission or two into space with the Russians. When they return, turn them into heroes, "PAKISTANIS IN SPACE'' and then watch the Space Program roll!