Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has confirmed that Pakistan is preparing to send its first astronaut into space in the near future.
Speaking at an international conference organized in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs in Islamabad on October 27, Iqbal said Pakistan had successfully launched five satellites over the past 18 months.
He said space technology was essential for protecting vulnerable communities from climate change and natural disasters, including floods, cyclones and glacial melting.
Planning Minister said satellite data and early warning systems could help reduce casualties and economic losses by improving disaster preparedness.
Referring to the devastating floods of 2022 and 2025, the minister said Pakistan had suffered economic losses exceeding $30 billion despite contributing less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
He criticized international partners and financial institutions for failing to provide adequate new grant financing for reconstruction, saying that repurposing previously approved loans for education and health was inconsistent with climate justice.
Iqbal called for reforms to the international financial system and urged developed countries and financial institutions to provide grant-based assistance to vulnerable nations rather than adding to their debt.
He also stressed the need to incorporate satellite data into development planning, particularly for infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges and hospitals.
The minister called for better information-sharing among government institutions, investment in space-related skills and more opportunities for young people, especially women, in space science and geospatial technologies.
He also urged regional cooperation to improve disaster preparedness and the exchange of information on shared rivers, mountain systems and climate risks.
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