Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) Pakistan has made plan for the launching of a satellite into space soon. The department will send the remote sensing satellite for the high resolution imagery. The local search engine, ‘Akas-e-Pakistan’ will be decided to launch with the satellite.

A Google Earth Replacement

It was decided in a meeting, which was conducted in SUPARCO and chaired by the Deputy Chairperson SUPARCO, Dr, Arifa Lodhi and it was mentioned that ‘Akas-e-Pakistan’ was aimed at the replacement of Google earth with much better resolution. With this development, Pakistani institutes will be able to use most accurate geological information with the use of satellite freely. Pakistan has prepared its satellite, PAKSATONE-IRA and it will be used as SPOT space station France. The cost of the satellite will be million dollars.

Punjab Government Collaboration with SUPARCO

The government of Punjab made the collaboration with SUPARCO for the usage of space technology in increasing the economic growth across the province. The space technology will be involved in the exploration of minerals and for the preparation of forest inventory in the province.

The management of SUPARCO made it clear that Punjab Government is working with Punjab Information Technology Board to provide training to the respective provincial officers of concerned department to give them benefit from the space technology.

GIS laboratories will be set up to prepare the forest inventories and the laboratories will be established for:

• Crops Reporting System soil crop condition assessment,
• Mapping of crop land characteristics, forest mapping,
• Flood mapping,
• Resource mapping,
• Crime mapping,
• Infrastructure development and health management,
• Identification of contaminant levels in the industrial areas,
• Identification of encroachment in beds of the rivers,
• Exploration of mines and minerals, etc.