Insider Brief
- Pakistan is deepening its space cooperation with China to expand satellite capabilities and telecommunications infrastructure, positioning itself within the growing space economy.
- Talks with China’s Galaxy Space and other firms are focused on satellite design, manufacturing, and space-based internet, with officials citing productive meetings and mutual interest in joint ventures, according to The International News.
- Pakistan’s recent space milestones — including the launch of its first indigenous earth observation satellite and participation in China’s lunar mission — signal a transition from symbolic efforts to sustained commercial and strategic investments.
Pakistan is seeking to deepen its space cooperation with China as part of a broader effort to advance its satellite capabilities and expand telecommunications infrastructure, signaling a growing regional interest in space-based economic development.
In a meeting Tuesday with Chinese commercial space executives, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its space sector and invited Chinese investment into joint space ventures. The meeting included leadership from Galaxy Space, a privately backed Chinese satellite internet and telecommunications firm. According to The International News, the delegation’s visit reflects expanding dialogue between the two countries on commercial and strategic uses of satellite technologies.
The outreach comes as Pakistan looks to move beyond sporadic space activity and establish a more sustained presence in orbit. Earlier this year, Pakistan launched its first domestically developed Electro Optical Satellite (EOS) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. That satellite, designed to capture earth observation data, has already contributed to disaster monitoring, offering near real-time updates on natural hazards such as floods and earthquakes, according to The International News.
These efforts build on milestones from the previous year, when the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) launched iCube Qamar aboard China’s Chang’e 6 lunar mission. That satellite represented Pakistan’s first foray into deep space and was hailed by government officials as a symbolic beginning of the country’s long-term ambitions in the sector.
Forging International Partnerships
Now, with new commercial players like Galaxy Space expressing interest in joint development programs, Pakistan is attempting to leverage international partnerships to expand both its technological base and market access. Officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and Suparco described the recent talks as productive, focusing not only on collaboration in satellite design and manufacturing but also on space-based internet infrastructure.
The International News, a widely read Pakistani newspaper with a focus on national policy, economic affairs, and international relations, reported that federal ministers from economic and technology portfolios were present at the meeting, reflecting the government’s whole-of-cabinet interest in positioning the country within a growing space economy. Government officials also welcomed the potential for Chinese companies to collaborate with Pakistan’s emerging private telecom sector.
Satellite Internet a Key Priority
The commercial satellite internet sector appears to be a key priority. Pakistan is on track to welcome Starlink, the satellite broadband service from SpaceX, as early as November or December, according to recent parliamentary briefings. This development has spurred local and foreign competitors to explore similar licensing arrangements. A separate Chinese firm, Shanghai SpaceCom, has also submitted an application for a satellite internet license in Pakistan, pointing to increased international competition for digital infrastructure projects in South Asia.
While Suparco has historically focused on government and defense-related satellite programs, the agency now appears increasingly open to partnerships that support civil and commercial applications. Satellite internet services are seen as a strategic tool for expanding connectivity in Pakistan’s remote and underserved regions, which have long struggled with limited broadband access.
The International News also reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz described the space sector as a national priority. By aligning space development with economic policy, the government aims to integrate space-based services into broader infrastructure and industrial modernization efforts, including digital governance and disaster resilience.
China’s Global Space Tech Push
The timing of the engagement with Galaxy Space also aligns with China’s growing push to export its space technologies through public-private partnerships. Chinese commercial space firms, buoyed by state support and an increasingly competitive domestic industry, are actively seeking international markets, particularly among countries aligned with Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
For Pakistan, space cooperation with China serves dual goals: improving domestic capabilities while benefiting from China’s deep supply chain and launch capacity. Satellite development remains prohibitively expensive for most nations, but partnerships with Chinese firms offer an off-ramp from full dependency on Western providers.
As global interest in space-based internet, Earth observation, and lunar missions accelerates, Pakistan’s leadership appears determined not to be left behind. According to The International News, the Galaxy Space delegation expressed openness to working with both public agencies and private firms in Pakistan to build out satellite services and explore further missions.
Challenges remain for Pakistan’s space efforts. Experts list technical capacity gaps, limited launch infrastructure and a modest domestic aerospace industry as some of the obstacles confronting Pakistan’s space industry.
However, Pakistan’s recent space activities signal a shift from aspirational rhetoric to practical investment with government leaders are framing space as an enabler of economic development rather than a prestige-driven scientific pursuit.
Matt Swayne
With a several-decades long background in journalism and communications, Matt Swayne has worked as a science communicator for an R1 university for more than 12 years, specializing in translating high tech and deep tech for the general audience. He has served as a writer, editor and analyst at The Space Impulse since its inception. In addition to his service as a science communicator, Matt also develops courses to improve the media and communications skills of scientists and has taught courses.
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