Pakistan’s Space Economy Must Come Down to Earth

The 2028–2034 research race shows why Pakistan should turn satellites into useful services, skilled jobs and exportable businesses.

When people hear “space economy”, many picture rockets, astronauts and missions to the Moon. For Pakistan, some of the strongest economic returns may be much closer: better crop decisions, earlier flood assessments, more reliable communications, stronger infrastructure planning and businesses built around satellite data.

That is the practical test of a national space strategy. A satellite is not an economic outcome by itself. Its value depends on whether dependable information reaches farmers, emergency services, utilities, businesses and public agencies in time to improve decisions.

Pakistan should measure its space programme not only by launches and hardware, but also by the services, productivity and skilled employment it enables on Earth.

The Global Space Economy Is Expanding

The scale of the opportunity is drawing global investment. A World Economic Forum and McKinsey study estimated that the global space economy could grow from $630 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2035.

Much of this expansion is expected to come from space-enabled services used across ordinary industries, including communications, navigation, agriculture, logistics and disaster management.

In July 2025, the European Commission proposed a €175 billion Horizon Europe research programme for 2028–2034 and named the space economy among its potential “moonshot” areas. That is the proposed budget for the entire programme, not a dedicated space allocation, and it remains under negotiation.

The signal is that research, industry and deployment are being planned together.

Pakistan is building capability of its own. SUPARCO launched the indigenous Earth-observation satellites EO-2 on 12 February 2026 and EO-3 on 25 April 2026. SUPARCO identifies agriculture, urban planning, environmental monitoring and disaster management among their applications.

Pakistan’s National Space Policy recognises local industry, commercial services and public-private partnerships. The challenge is to connect these assets and policies to users, customers and measurable public benefit.

Agriculture Offers an Immediate Opportunity

Agriculture offers an immediate place to start. Satellite observations can help estimate crop areas, monitor crop health, identify water stress and direct field teams to locations that need closer inspection.

Combined with weather information, ground measurements and agricultural expertise, these observations can support irrigation advice, production estimates and planning. They can also improve the evidence available to insurers and lenders.

The objective is not to replace farmers’ judgement; it is to make useful information more timely and accessible.

Strengthening Disaster Preparedness

The same approach can strengthen disaster preparedness. SUPARCO already provides space-based information to national and provincial disaster authorities through its disaster-management work.

Satellite imagery can help map hazards, assess affected areas and support recovery planning. But a satellite image is not, on its own, an early-warning system.

Timely action also depends on weather forecasts, ground observations, clear agency responsibilities, communications and tested response procedures. Data has public value when an institution can act on it.

Supporting Pakistan’s Energy Transition

Space applications can also support Pakistan’s energy transition. Satellite and weather data could help screen sites for solar and wind projects, assess flood exposure along transmission corridors and identify infrastructure locations where detailed engineering inspections should be prioritised.

These are opportunities to test, not claims that satellites can diagnose equipment condition or replace engineering surveys.

Utilities, SUPARCO, energy agencies and universities should evaluate each service against a real planning decision and publish what it improves: assessment time, risk identification, forecast accuracy or cost.

Building Businesses and Skilled Employment

Much of the economic value may come from businesses using space data. Pakistani firms can develop geospatial software, analytics, connectivity services and decision tools, while universities train people in remote sensing, aerospace, data science and cybersecurity.

Public agencies can create an early market by defining needs, offering transparent service contracts and making non-sensitive data available under clear licensing and security rules.

Competitive pilots can help small firms prove products and win follow-on contracts.

A Practical Roadmap for 2028–2034

A practical 2028–2034 roadmap should move in stages.

In 2028–2030, Pakistan should set shared data standards, identify users and test regional pilots in agriculture, water, disaster management and energy. It should publish baseline measures for accuracy, timeliness and cost.

In 2031–2034, the country should expand proven services and assess adoption, local suppliers, skills, revenue and verified employment.

Numerical targets should be set only after feasibility work. Successful services should receive maintenance funding, while weak pilots should be redesigned or closed.

International Cooperation and Long-Term Sustainability

International cooperation can widen the opportunity. China has supported Pakistan’s satellite launches and a proposed Pakistani rover for the Chang’e-8 mission. European research partnerships can add scientific links, standards and market access.

Pakistani organisations should seek defined roles in consortia and check each call’s eligibility rules: the proposed Horizon Europe budget is not automatically available to every country. Partnerships should build lasting skills and services in Pakistan.

Growth also requires care for the orbital environment. The European Space Agency has warned that inactive spacecraft and rocket bodies contribute to debris that threatens the safe use of orbit.

As Pakistan expands its space capabilities, debris mitigation, end-of-life planning, space situational awareness and international coordination should be built into programme design. Sustainability protects the infrastructure on which future communications, navigation and Earth-observation services depend.

Turning Space Technology into Economic Value

Pakistan does not need to imitate Europe’s spending or compete in every segment of the space industry. It needs to connect national needs, technical capability and commercial opportunity.

The country already has satellites, scientific talent, a space policy and practical needs in agriculture, water, disaster resilience and energy. The next phase should turn these foundations into services people use and businesses can sustain.

This writer can be reached at habib_rahman_habib786@yahoo.com.