Special Political and Decolonization

Statement in the Special Political and Decolonization (4th) Committee on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space 24 October 2007

1. Pakistan welcomes and supports the fundamental role of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and its invaluable contribution, spanning fifty years of its existence, in promoting peaceful uses of outer space. Let me also express our appreciation for the work of the Office for Outer Space Affairs.
2. I would like to thank the Chairman of the COPUOS for introducing the Committee’s comprehensive report to the General Assembly. We greatly appreciate the work of the Committee and its Scientific and Technical and Legal Sub-Committees and other related activities pursuant to the comprehensive framework of policies and guidelines contained in the annual resolution of the General Assembly. We support continued work by COPUOS to identify and consider new initiatives and mechanism, as well as in pursuing implementation of the existing commitments and agreements, for further strengthening international cooperation for the peaceful uses of outer space. Of importance in this regard, is the follow-up on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE-III considered in the Working Group of the Whole, which is chaired by Pakistan.

Mr. Chairman,

3. We support the efforts for maximizing the benefits of space capabilities in particular for capacity building, sustainable development and disaster management. Pakistan welcomes the progress in the implementation of UN SPIDER program. COPUOS has an important role in ensuring that the benefits of space-science technology accrue to all countries, particularly the developing countries. There is a need to further enhance international efforts and improve coordination for development of space capabilities and their application for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. We would like to underline in this regard the importance of increasing the engagement of the developing countries including through sharing of experience and new technologies and non-discriminatory, affordable and timely access to state of the art data and information. Pakistan also supports the call for rational and equitable access for all States to the geostationary orbit.
4. Pakistan shares the concern over the dangers of weaponization and arms race in outer space, particularly the insistence by States with major space capabilities on incorporating the use of outer space in their military doctrines. This will impede international cooperation for peaceful uses of outer space and jeopardize the security of outer space, which is a common heritage of mankind. There is a need for confidence building and greater transparency in space activities undertaken by various states. The Committee has a role in this regard. While the question of prevention of an arms race in outer space should continue to be considered at the Conference on Disarmament, in our view, the work of COPUOS is not completely irrelevant to this question. The work of the CD in this area should be coordinated with COPUOS. We support establishment of working relationship and channels of communication between COPUOS and the CD in the context of their complementary roles.
5. Other issues including those related to space debris, increasing commercialization of outer space and involvement of private sector also require close attention. There is a need to address the lacunas in the international legal frameworks on regulating activity in outer space and further strengthening international cooperation. Further development of legal norms, wherever appropriate, to address new developments in space technology and increasing universal interest in its application, merit consideration. We support the negotiation of a comprehensive convention on space law.

Mr. Chairman,

6. We have made considerable progress, spearheaded by Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), in the application of space sciences and technology in various fields. These include projects and programs of national importance ranging from education to telemedicine, agriculture, natural resource management, survey of flood plain areas, monitoring of watercourses, satellite meteorology, environmental surveying, atmospheric pollution monitoring, vehicle tracking, provision of data, training and assistance to governmental as well as private enterprises.
7. Pakistan has a leased communication satellite, PAKSAT-1, which is now planned to be replaced by 2010. This will not only augment the existing telecommunication infrastructure of the country, but also help greatly in promoting the use of satellite communication particularly for socio-economic development.
8. In the field of environment, some of the important projects include study of causes of widespread winter fog in the north-eastern parts of Pakistan and study of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) derived Cloud Top Temperature, Cloud Top Pressure and Aerosol Optical Thickness. Pakistan has entered into a Global AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) program; which is an optical, ground-based aerosol monitoring network and data archive system supported by NASA’s Earth Observing System and involving over 40 countries. The network consists of identical automatic Sun and Sky scanning spectral radiometers. Data from this collaboration provide globally distributed near-real-time observations on aerosol spectral optical depths, aerosol size distributions, and precipitable water in diverse aerosol environments. The data provide algorithm validation of satellite aerosol retrievals, as well as characterization of aerosol properties unavailable from satellite sensors.
9. SUPARCO has developed several Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) based systems and associated databases pertaining to various thematic applications for a large number of user agencies in the country. These include the Development of Geo-database Hardware Software and Tracking System for monitoring improvement of watercourses in the Sindh Province of Pakistan. Satellite remote sensing data are being used for estimation of crops acreage, yield forecasting, early warning and crop stress. A pilot project on cotton and wheat crops estimation launched in 2006 has now been expanded to estimation of wheat, rice, maize and sugarcane crops in 43 districts of the country.
10. In 2006, SUPARCO initiated a VSAT based telemedicine pilot project using PAKSAT-1 transponder bandwidth, to provide cost effective health care and telemedicine facilities to people in rural areas of Pakistan. VSAT system has linked Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center in Karachi to Civil Hospital Shikarpur in interior Sindh province, where approximately 40 to 50 patients are being provided consultation daily. SUPARCO is working with other hospitals in the country to expand telemedicine facilities through satellite communications to rural areas which do not have access to hospitals.
11. SUPARCO also organized a large number of events and activities in celebration of the World Space Week 2006 in Pakistan.

Mr. Chairman,

12. As a member of the UN COPUOS, Pakistan is deeply committed to its objectives. We follow closely the evolution of space activities and the ways and means of further enhancing international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space for the benefit of the entire mankind. Pakistan also remains ready to share its experiences and expertise especially with the developing countries.

Thank you.