<\/p>\n
The caretaker government announced on Wednesday that the federal cabinet had approved Pakistan\u2019s first-ever National Space Policy.<\/p>\n
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Caretaker Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Dr Umar Saif said that the federal cabinet had approved three \u201clandmark decisions\u201d for the IT and telecom sector.<\/p>\n
He said the National Space Policy would enable private sector companies to \u201coffer affordable internet services in Pakistan while enabling increased investment in our national space programme\u201d.<\/p>\n
He further said that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) would be established to \u201creplace the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for cyber crimes\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis new agency will have the required expertise, funding and resources to prevent, investigate and prosecute cyber crimes in Pakistan,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Saif further said that a \u201cspecialised telecom tribunal\u201d would be set up so that \u201ccourt cases and disputes in the telecom sector can be decided without delay \u2014 paving the way for spectrum availability for 5G.\u201d<\/p>\n
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside Saif earlier in the day, interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said the caretaker federal cabinet had approved the nation\u2019s first space policy under which international companies would be allowed to provide communication services through low-orbit communication satellites.<\/p>\n
He said that under this policy, Pakistan would also establish a space regulatory regime per international standards. He said it would also allow for funds to be allocated to the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) for research and development.<\/p>\n
Solangi said caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar had appreciated the efforts of the relevant ministries in creating the country\u2019s first space policy. He said that the policy was prepared in consultation with all stakeholders over three months.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Saif told the media that the space policy was \u201cas important as the telecom policy\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cPakistan used to have PTCL landlines and the Telecom Act was introduced to reform this sector, and permission was given for private companies to offer telecom services,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is why you all have phones in your hands and SIMs. Now you do not need the intervention of two MNAs for a landline,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n
Saif said that satellite communication technology was advancing rapidly and many private companies in the world wanted to provide communication services through low-orbit satellites.<\/p>\n
\u201cSatellites used to be geostationary, far away from the land. They are useful for broadcasting TV signals but communicating is difficult because there is latency,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Saif said that communication services and internet services could be offered through low-orbit satellites, which were relatively closer. He said that there had been a lot of development in this regard in the private sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo now it has become possible for communication services in Pakistan to be provided through satellites and the private sector has this technology,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said the cabinet\u2019s decision to approve the first space policy meant that the private sector could now offer these services in Pakistan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many companies which are offering this. There\u2019s Starlink, Leo, OneWeb, there are a lot of companies offering these services,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n