PIESAT Deal and the Path to Indigenisation

Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security & Research has entered into a USD 406.4 million agreement with China’s PIESAT to establish an integrated constellation of satellites along with ground systems in Pakistan. The deal opens new avenues for expanding the country’s space programme and strengthening its position in the global space sector. However, for this partnership to carry long-term value, it must translate into potent skills, modern facilities, and resilient local supply chains that lead to sovereign satellite design, manufacturing, and eventually, launch capability.

Considering these challenges, this agreement may not be a revolutionary development, but it still presents a significant opportunity to augment Pakistan’s evolving space programme. To maximise its impact, Pakistan should aim to build and test at least one satellite domestically with partner engineers stationed on-site for three to five years, and certify local suppliers to global standards, just as Türkiye did with its USET centre on TÜRKSAT-6A.

The PIESAT deal brings several benefits for Pakistan’s space sector. Firstly, it offers a constellation of 20 communication and observation satellites to deliver imaging, navigation, and other space-based services to public agencies, research institutions, and private users. PIESAT’s initial phase offers a home-based ground segment, a local manufacturing facility, supporting software, and technical support aimed at building domestic capabilities.

Secondly, the planned ground facilities and training programmes will help build national expertise in satellite operations and data applications, taking a step toward a self-reliant space sector. Third, a satellite manufacturing facility will be developed to anchor a supplier base and enable stepwise localisation of components and processes. These benefits will be realised in different phases, as service benefits can arrive early while facilities and workforce mature over several cycles.

In practical terms, this ecosystem will aid urban planning by benefiting from routine land-use monitoring, right-of-way protection, and corridor management. Connectivity via Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) backhaul will support remote schools and clinics and stabilise service quality. If implemented with due diligence, Pakistan can achieve immediate gains in tasking and data availability as satellite research labs deepen capabilities.

Currently, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) crop-monitoring bulletins guide planting, yield estimates, and water planning in Pakistan. During the 2022 floods, the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT)’s rapid maps helped officials observe 75,000 km² of inundation in more than 80 districts, supporting relief to 33 million affected people. In addition to this existing use, the new PIESAT package is meant to add a multi-orbit satellite constellation.

The PIESAT deal also offers national security-related benefits. Better control over tasking, timeliness, and data retention will support persistent observation of borders, coastlines, and critical infrastructure without unwarranted signalling. Additionally, a civil space backbone that delivers dependable data at scale can also underpin dual-use services such as maritime risk analytics and infrastructure monitoring.

Moreover, in the non-traditional security domain, official messaging already links observation capacity to disaster response, food security, urban management, and corridor monitoring. Consolidating these missions is the most credible path to long-run security benefits. However, to address the privacy-related concerns, Pakistan can adopt a tiered remote-sensing regime, license high-resolution imaging, restrict tasking/sharing, and log all access, using 15 CFR Part 960 as the baseline, adapted for Pakistan.

However, the implementation of the PIESAT deal faces several challenges. In such projects, delays in launch schedules are common, and costs increase when timelines are missed. Pakistan may also face licensing restrictions that limit how satellite data and software can be used. Moreover, when the testing or integration of satellites happens outside Pakistan, local engineers and suppliers lose opportunities to build hands-on experience.

These challenges do not undermine the value of international cooperation; they simply show that every imported satellite project should be designed to build Pakistan’s own capacity. Each space mission should ensure that the local teams gain training in assembly, integration, and testing of satellites and the related software systems, so that future satellites can increasingly be made and managed within Pakistan.

Pakistan’s National Space Policy also aims to expand satellite services, involve private companies, and follow international standards. The PIESAT satellite project should work within this policy framework. To do that, there must be clear rules for how satellite data is accessed, stored, and protected. All government departments should follow standard procedures when buying satellite-related equipment or services. Public funding should depend on clear results, including certified local suppliers, successfully tested satellites, and faster access to satellite data for national users.

The PIESAT satellite deal brings satellites, ground systems, and training to Pakistan, but its real value will be realised once Pakistan builds strong technical skills, testing facilities, and reliable local suppliers. The global satellite market is getting crowded, and relying on foreign launch pads and suppliers is not a sustainable option.

Spending in space projects like the PIESAT deal should show real results, such as Pakistan learning to assemble and test its own satellites, training local engineers, setting up ground stations, and sharing yearly updates on what progress has been made. With steady and disciplined work, the PIESAT project can help Pakistan move toward a more independent and service-focused space programme that benefits the whole country.