China successfully launched a Pakistani communication satellite, PakSat MM1, on Thursday using a Long March 3B carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Southwest China’s Sichuan province. The mission is a turning point in the two nation’s technological cooperation. Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission and China Great Wall Industry Corporation collaborated on the design and development of the satellite.

Strengthening Pakistan's communication infrastructure is the main goal of the PakSat MM1satellite. This will open up new opportunities for connectivity, help the underprivileged, and advance tele-education, tele-health, tele-medicine, tele-governance, and e-commerce while establishing Pakistan among the global leaders in digital technology. This will be the crucial link that bridges the digital divide. Higher reach and more economical bandwidth will be provided across the nation by PakSat MM1.

According to reports, Pakistan will become the 11th nation in the world to launch its own SBAS when PakSat MM1 is equipped with the Pak-SBAS (Pakistan Space Based Augmentation System) payload, which will offer integrity-based positioning, navigation, and timing services.

Pakistan received satellite systems, launch services, ground monitoring and control stations, ground application systems, collaborative satellite development, training for technical staff, insurance arrangements, and concessional loans from the corporation. This turnkey project serves as a demonstration of corporation's role as China's primary worldwide platform for aerospace cooperation.

The Chinese company would equip a big number of management and technical staff members with experience in satellite research and production through collaborative development, creating a talent pool for Pakistan's autonomous space development capabilities.

As for the corporation, the satellite project achieved the installation of high-precision BeiDou Navigation Satellite Services and was the first international satellite project to adopt BeiDou standards. BeiDou was also the major augmentation aim.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the whole country on the historic launch of Paksat MM1, the country's second communication satellite. He said, "I am incredibly proud of our national accomplishment," adding that "this remarkable achievement marks a significant advancement in our space and communication capabilities."

The prospective impact of Paksat MM1 on internet connectivity throughout Pakistan excites me, he said. This satellite promises to transform our digital environment and offer the quickest internet service in the entire nation with its cutting-edge communication technologies. 

Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's deputy prime minister, also commended the country on the Pakistan Multi Mission Communication Satellite launch's success. He said, “This historic accomplishment, which was made possible by our great friend and ally China, represents a turning point in our National Space Programme. This endeavour is a prime example of our close friendship and robust technological cooperation with China.”

According to him, Pakistan is dedicated to advancing science and technology as major forces behind both economic expansion and societal advancement. With this launch, Pakistan is reaffirming its commitment to building up domestic capabilities and investing in high-tech industries.

Pakistan's Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi on Thursday said the launch of a multi-mission communications satellite marked yet another important turning point in the country's space program and a new phase in China-Pakistan space cooperation.

Moreover, Muhammad Yousaf Khan, Chairman of the research commission, thanked the governments of Pakistan and the People's Republic of China for their unwavering support in a message delivered on this momentous day. He expressed his gratitude to the engineering teams in both nations for their tireless work in seeing the project through to completion. In addition, the research commission’s chairman reaffirmed his commitment to advancing space sciences in order to help Pakistan's socioeconomic sector.

Not long ago, Pakistan also saw the launch of its first lunar satellite on May 3 of this year as well, as part of China's historic quest to gather samples from the far side of the moon that has not been extensively studied using cooperative technology.

Beijing is among the closest allies of Islamabad. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, which aims to strengthen economic and technological links between the two countries, includes this cooperation as part of a larger strategic alliance. In addition to strengthening Pakistan's space technology capabilities, the successful launch and operation of these satellites has strengthened the country's strong bilateral connections and promoted stability in the area.

The Author is Muhammad Humayun Asghar, a Pakistani affiliated with Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), a leading IT university in China.

he views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily. 

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