ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar felicitated the nation and the scientists as Pakistan launched it first lunar satellite ICUBE-Q.
In the separately issued statements, the president and prime minister paid tribute to the core committee of the Institute of Space Technology including its member Dr Khurram Khurshid, SUPARCO, China’s space body and the students who took part in the project.
“The successful launch of satellite mission will prove to be a milestone in Pakistan’s space program. The whole nation feels proud for this significant achievement in the space technology,” the president remarked. He also lauded cooperation between Pakistan and China in the field of space and said Pakistan yet have to achieve more milestones in the sector.
President Zardari expressed the hope that Pakistan’s space research institutes and scientists would bring more laurels to the country through their more hard work, dedication and planning.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Pak-China friendship which was dubbed as higher than Himalayas, deeper than the oceans and sweeter than the honey had gone beyond the borders to reach the space. Terming the ICUBE-Q launch Pakistan’s first step in the space, he said just like the nuclear field, the country’s scientists, engineers and experts were proving their mettle in the space technology. The acceptance of Pakistan’s mission among eight countries was the recognition of the capabilities of Pakistan’s scientists and experts, he added.
“This is a historic milestone in the technological develoment. By this achievement, Pakistan has entered a new era of exploring the space for productive purposes,” the prime minister remarked. Prime Minister Shehbaz said that this achievement would help build Pakistan’s capacity in the satellite communications besides opening up new avenues for scientific research, economic development and national security. “Our sons of soil have proved that they have the capability، passion and expertise to explore the space.
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In a statement, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also congratulated the young Pakistani students and scientists on the launch of lunar orbital mission ICUBE-Q. “Today’s launch from Hainan in China, is a good example of countries and organizations coming together for space cooperation and shared benefits. It shows the promise of Pakistani youth,” he added.
