Govt decides to expand use of Paksat

ISLAMABAD: The government has reportedly decided to expand use of Paksat satellite services at the domestic level which is expected to raise $ 600-700 million for national space programme in ten years, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.

In 2004, Paksat programme the way forward” - was issued by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, enshrining parameters and contours for implementation including administrative, financial and regulatory aspects which need to be implemented in policy frameworks as voids remain especially with reference to regulatory and financial aspects. National space assets utilization could have generated around $544 million (Rs 85 billion) to date.

Strategic Plans Division (SPD) initiated a summary for the Prime Minister in March 2019 to address voids, regulatory and financial issues related to sustainability of National Space Program (NSP) which is all-encompassing space programme envisaging developments in the field of space, having direct linkages with strategic program. The National Command Authority (NCA) headed by the Prime Minister has already approved the National Space Programme. The entire edifice of the space programme is based on reducing reliance on foreign and domestic funding. As such, revenue earning satellite services being provided by Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) need to be fully utilized. This is not happening at present primarily due to the unregulated satellite domestic market.

Total satellite capacity usage at present in Pakistan is approximately 2200 MHz out of which 21 per cent on Pakistani satellites and the rest is on foreign satellites. In financial terms, a minimum of $ 35-40 million per year is going out of the country and default of users of Pakistan satellites, in the absence of regulations, has piled to $ 22.48 million (Rs 3.5 billion). Countries in the region such as India, China and Bangladesh restrict/ prohibit the use of foreign satellite systems, thereby granting regulatory and financial protection to their own space programmes.

The Prime Minister constituted an inter-ministerial committee under the chairmanship of Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications, to come up with an agreed framework and furnish recommendations. The Committee, after detailed deliberations, recommended adoption of policy measures to maximize use of national space assets deployed by Suparco/Paksat International for satellite services in Pakistan in national and financial interest.

The Prime Minister, after perusing the recommendations of the committee, directed the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, in consultation with Strategic Plans Division (SPD), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and other stakeholders, may develop policy options with clear recommendation and present before the cabinet along with an analysis of some key points.

Based on the recommendations of the committee, a draft policy directive for provision of satellite services in Pakistan has the potential to raise $ 600-700 million for the national space program till 2030, besides having indirect benefits related to advancement of indigenous space technology. The policy directive would then enable the concerned Ministries/Divisions to process actions related to them in accordance with relevant government enactments.—MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN