Counselor, Pakistan Permanent Mission to United Nations, Naeem sabir Khan says Pakistan believes that space should be used for peaceful purposes and should remain accessible to all nations on a non-discriminatory basis, irrespective of their level of scientific, technical, or economic development.

In his statement at the Fourth Committee during 77th UN General Assembly Session on “International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,” he said Pakistan has been a member of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) since 1973 and has contributed actively toward its valuable work.  He said we have ratified all five United Nations space treaties governing peaceful uses and the long-term sustainability of outer space.    

Counselor Naeem sabir Khan said the focus of Pakistan's national space program is the pursuit of sustainable socio-economic progress. Accordingly, Pakistan uses its space capabilities in diverse fields such as agriculture, health, water management, meteorology, climate change mitigation, health, humanitarian assistance, disaster management, satellite navigation and communication. He said Pakistan is committed to conducting all its outer space activities in a peaceful, transparent, and safe manner according to relevant international norms.

The counsellor said Pakistan's space policy lays profound emphasis on international cooperation. It is reflected in Pakistan's membership in International Astronautical Federation (IAF), Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), and Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF). We have also applied for membership in the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG). The ICG's membership will promote compatibility, interoperability, and transparency with current and future satellite navigation systems.

He furthe said SUPARCO, Pakistan's national space agency, hosts the UN-SPIDER Regional Support Office, the Mission Control Centre of COSPAS-SARSAT and the Inter-Islamic Network on Space Science & Technology (ISNET). Pakistan organized the third International Conference on Space (ICS) from 28-30 March 2022 in Islamabad in collaboration with APSCO, ICESCO and ISNET. The Conference attracted participants from 13 international space organizations, including six national space agencies from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Iran, Indonesia, Jordan, and Turkey.

He said the Space 2030 Agenda provides the framework to use space as a driver for sustainable development. The UN Secretary General's report "Our Common Agenda" also acknowledges the importance of peaceful, secure, and sustainable use of outer space vital for understanding and solving global problems, such as the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and climate action.

Naeem sabir Khan said Robust international cooperation for capacity building, technical assistance and technology transfer is vital to ensure that developing nations can meaningfully enjoy their rights in the exploration, access, and use of outer space for sustainable development.