Space is a transformative frontier synthesizing cutting-edge scientific technologies with strategic resource exploitation and management. Erstwhile virtues in space were considered an adventure; however, presently they are deemed colossally imperative for indigenous socio-economic development. In this regard, Pakistan’s space policy seeks to capitalize on space technology to leverage various sectors, notably, marine and coastal resources, to boost economic growth, beget social uplift, and bolster national security.
The space odyssey of Pakistan began in 1961 when Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) was formulated as Space Sciences Research Wing in 1961 that was upgraded to level of Space Commission in 1981. Being one of the key active states in space age, Pakistan space breakthroughs began with the development of Rehbar rocket program in collaboration with US. Despite landmark initiation of space program, ever-lasting unfavourable political-cum-economic situation rendered space developments at the hindsight.
However, space journey continued to adrift particularly with emphasis on satellite technology reflected from launch of indigenously developed experimental satellites Badr I and Badr II in 1990 and 2000 respectively, chiefly with the assistance of China. Pakistan remote sensing satellite program replaced the Badr series. Subsequently, in 2018, Pakistan launched optical and earth observation satellites named as PRSS-1 (Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite-1) and PAK-TES 1A (Pakistan Technology Evaluation Satellite) through Chinese launchpad.
In July 2011, SUPARCO’s space spirit underwent rejuvenation when Pakistan’s National Command Authority (NCA) sanctioned the first-ever space vision called 2040 space program underling space ambitions of Pakistan, encompassing launch of 5 GEO and 6 LEO satellites by 2040. This vision was afterwards named as vision 2047 in 2014 to commemorate Pakistan’s 100 anniversary. Currently, the country has set sights on stars through unveiling National Space Policy approved on December 13, 2023, which charts progressive course to utilize enormous potential of space sector for realizing development objectives.
Space Policy of Pakistan enshrines several key objectives such as formulation of space regulatory framework, furthering public-private partnership in same sector, using space technology for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), buttressing space technological base, and strengthening international collaboration in space sector.
The same policy calls for national space agency to encourage use of space applications in multifaceted economic sectors such as forestry, agriculture, geology and mineral prospection, water resources, urban planning and management, environment, and geographic information system. Other sectors are disaster monitoring and mitigation, land cover mapping, and cryosphere modeling. As far as maritime domain is concerned, space policy documents exploitation of coastal and marine resources.
Pakistan being vital Indian Ocean littoral state having 1001km coastline is endowed with diverse coastal and marine resources that can monumentally propel economic engine of country. However, these resources predominantly remain untapped due to lack of policy direction and dearth of requisite technology. In that non-conducive environment for exploring such available vast resource pool, Pakistan’s space policy provides a ray of hope by highlighting use of space technologies to leverage maritime sector.
The policy underpins use of remote sensing technology to assess coastal and marine resources; oceanography; map coastal configuration, landforms, navigation channels, and bathymetry; and to map creeks as well as coastal lakes. Moreover, it underscores to identify and monitor aqua culture and fishing sites, and simultaneously observe coast erosion and sedimentation. However, the policy merely enlists the aforementioned sub-sectors pertinent to maritime sector whereby space technology can be employed, it doesn’t address key means, targets, and possible course of action with respect to each sub-sector.
Pakistan can use space technology to exploit marine resources, especially in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) comprising 240,000 sq.km coupled with 50,000 km long continental shelf. EEZ of Pakistan with diversified-cum-distinct geological regions such Indus offshore, Makran offshore, and Murray Ridge have potential of producing oil, gas, minerals, and fish resources. The limited scientific knowledge regarding these marine resources can be overcome through satellite imagery for marine resources identification, monitoring, and management.
Pakistan’s marine fishing sector play an indispensable role in national economy, directly involving 400,000, and indirectly employing 1 million people. 23,000 registered fish vessels are used to commercially exploit different fish species present in 22 fish landing sites in Sindh and Balochistan.
Geospatial data and tools such as Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) and Automated Identification System (AIS) maybe used to identify and map movements of fishing vessels as well as to quantify fishing efforts which in turn are crucial for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fish detection. Besides, analysis of environmental parameters such as chlorophyll concentration and sea surface temperature along coast can be helpful to identify fish aggregation, detect potential fishing zones and aquaculture sites.
With respect to oceanography, satellite technology has overhauled this domain providing unparalleled insights on physical characteristics of oceans, mapping ocean floors, forecasting extreme weather events, tracking marine life, and enhancing navigational safety. Pakistan can specifically harness that technology to study ocean acidification and sea-level rise as key indicator of climate change. Similarly, to map coastal configuration and coastal landforms, multi-temporal satellite images can dispense robust data on morphological status.
Pakistan can employ satellite technology to tremendously optimize navigation as it dispenses real-time location data thereby permitting ships to safely and easily navigate with pin-point precision, especially through difficult waters. From largest merchant vessels to smallest fishing vessels, seafarers use satellite data for navigation purpose. American GPS, Russian GLONASS, Chinese BeiDou, European Galileo, and Indian NavIC furnished by the satellites revolutionizing the marine navigation are key examples.
Furthermore, satellite data may prove quintessential for location tracking and communication; obstacle and unauthorized access detection; docking operations and berth management; and remote vessel management. It is pertinent for Pakistan should indigenously develop its satellite navigation capabilities to effectively and uninterruptedly reap the benefits satellite navigation offers.
Bathymetry, measurement of ocean’s depth, is another sub-sector whereby Pakistan can employ satellite technology in maritime domain. Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB) which offers multifarious dividends can ensure cost-effectiveness given coastal mapping through SDB annuls necessity of expensive equipment as well as labor-intensive surveys.
Swift data collection through satellite imagery can produce bathymetric maps that can prove instrumental in navigational safety, monitoring of coastal ecosystems, thereby facilitating coastal resources management and marine habitat conservation. It can also gauge coastal vulnerability in order to plan disaster response.
Satellite imagery is also indispensable for mapping of creeks areas in Pakistan. Sir Creek, 96km estuary in the Rann of Kutch, is enriched with different resources, entailing plant life, minerals, oil, gas, and petroleum, which can be extracted for commercial exploitation.
Satellite imagery can revolutionize the resource exploration by providing aid in identifying potential resource areas and concurrently high-resolution mapping of resources’ distribution in Creeks. Given the ever-changing course of creeks areas, satellites can tremendously help in analyzing the extent of accretion and avulsion for sustainable resource management; besides, this data may aid in predictability analysis of coastline morphology.
The dynamic coastline of Pakistan is also subjected to coastal hazards like shoreline erosion which is on rise due to ever-enhancing sea-level, detrimentally affecting the populated areas.
Satellites equipped with the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can be used to carry-out large-scale monitoring of the main hotspots of coastal erosion such as Sonmiani, Pasni, Jiwani, and Badin, as identified in 2014 National Assessment Report on Coastal erosion. This would enable risk mitigation through pre-emptive detection of erosion trends causing land loss and infrastructural damages.
Given the multitudinous boons satellite technology offers to tap marine resources, it is vital to draw a tangible roadmap for efficacious use of space technology in various sub-sectors under ambit of marine and coastal resources to optimize resource management and foster sustainable development in Pakistan.