Pakistan has taken a further step toward developing its next major communication satellite. The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has recommended the Rs37.19 billion PakSat-2 project to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.
The decision came during a CDWP meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal. The project falls under the government’s Uraan Pakistan development programme. Officials said it will place a new communication satellite in geostationary orbit and upgrade the existing ground control and operations centres in Lahore and Karachi.
According to planning documents, PakSat-2 aims to strengthen Pakistan’s satellite command, tracking, control and operational systems by making better use of infrastructure already available with the national space agency SUPARCO. The satellite is intended to replace PakSat-1R, which is nearing the end of its 15-year operational life in 2026. Maintaining continuous coverage is also important for protecting Pakistan’s allocated orbital slot.
SUPARCO’s current communication satellites support television broadcasting, internet and data services across Pakistan and parts of neighbouring regions. The new project is expected to improve these services and overall space capabilities.
In the same meeting, the CDWP approved a separate Rs3.62 billion Geo-AI Development and Innovation Hub to boost geospatial technology and related research. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal described the growth of Pakistan’s space programme as an important part of the national development agenda.