Pakistan Launches Next-Gen Remote Sensing Satellite from China, Boosts Strategic Capabilities
Pakistan marked a major technological milestone by launching an advanced remote sensing satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China on Thursday. The satellite, developed with cutting-edge imaging capabilities, took off at 7:38am PST, in the presence of top officials from SUPARCO — the country’s national space agency.
The launch event was live-streamed from SUPARCO Headquarters in Karachi, reflecting the operation’s national importance. The new satellite is expected to serve multiple critical functions, including climate monitoring, natural disaster forecasting, precision agriculture, and infrastructure tracking.
According to SUPARCO, the satellite’s electro-optical and hyperspectral imaging sensors will allow Pakistani scientists and planners to assess crop yields, track urban growth, and monitor environmental degradation in near real-time.
“This step forward enhances our indigenous capacity to respond to natural disasters, improve agricultural output, and manage national infrastructure,” a SUPARCO spokesperson noted, adding that the new satellite represents a significant evolution from earlier efforts.
The satellite will play a pivotal role in monitoring developments under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by delivering accurate data for both planning and compliance.
This initiative is a continuation of Pakistan’s growing presence in space. It follows the successful 2018 launch of PRSS-1 and PakTES-1A, which laid the groundwork for enhanced geospatial intelligence. In recent years, the launch of the EO-1 electro-optical satellite also contributed to Pakistan’s expanding data capabilities in low Earth orbit.
