SUPARCO

The Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, commonly referred to as SUPARCO, is the national space agency of Pakistan. The agency, originally established in 1961 as a committee in Karachi, became an independent commission in 1981. Its initial objective was to study rocketry and high-altitude research from the United States, which eventually led to the development of a national satellite programme. This culminated in the successful launch of Pakistan's first satellite from China in 1990. The agency was also an early participant in the rocket development programme launched by the Ministry of Defence of Pakistan. The agency leads the National Space Programme (NSP) and maintains the orbital operations of its satellites with support facilities throughout the country. SUPARCO also serves as the secretariat for Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB) which was established in February 2024 under the National Command Authority to regulate all space-related activities in Pakistan.