ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP): After successful launch of communication satellite Paksat-IR, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) now plans to launch high resolution Remote Sensing Satellite System (RSSS), in 2014, to meet the national and international user requirements in the field of satellite imagery. RSSS will be a progressive and sustainable programme.Initially, SUPARCO plans to launch an optical satellite with payload of 2.5 meter PAN in 700 km sun-synchronous orbit by the end of year 2011, which will be followed by a series of optical and SAR satellites in future.
Giving further details, Secretary SUPARCO Arshad H Siraj said it will be helpful in exploiting the potentials of space technologies for natural resource surveying and environmental monitoring.
RSSS will also be significant in executing application projects of national significance,transfer technology to users in public and private sectors as remote sensing along with its allied technologies has become an industry in itself.
He said SUPARCO is the pioneer in introducing these technologies in Pakistan using Satellite Remote Sensing techniques.
He was of the view that RSSS will also be helpful in improving agriculture of the country,water resources, ennvironment and other such issues.
SUPARCO aims to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country by demonstrating the potential of space technologies for natural resources surveying and environment monitoring, he added.
Pakistan entered the space age with the formal launching of a second hand purchased Paksat-I in January 2003.
“Since then our scientists and engineers had been making endeavours to launch indigenous satellite and ensure country’s permanent presence in the space”.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan launched communication satellite Paksat-IR few days back, which has 30 transponders, design life of 15 years and will provide TV broadcasting, Internet and data communications services in South and Central Asia, Eastern Europe, East Africa and the Far East.
Replying to a question, Secretary SUPARCO said, under the vision 2040 of Pakistan’s Space programme, many more satellites will be launched, which will help to improve socio-economic condition of the country.
As far as launch of spaceship is concerned,he said, no such planning is in consideration, and focus is to launch more communication satellites.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Pakistan’s first Communications Satellite PAKSAT-1R launched
ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (APP): Pakistan’s first Communications Satellite PAKSAT-1R, as a part of Pakistan’s Space Programme-2040, was launched on Thursday at 2117 hours on board China’s Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre.Besides others, launch was witnessed by Secretary Defence Lt Gen Syed Athar Ali ®, Secretary Foreign Affairs, Salman Bashir, Director General, Strategic Plans Division Lt Gen Khalid Ahmed Kidwai ® and Ambassador of Pakistan to China, Muhammad Masood Khan, said a press release issued here.PAKSAT-1R has a total of 30 transponders, 12 in C-band and 18 in Ku-band. The satellite will be deployed at 380E in the Geo-stationary orbit and it will replace the existing satellite PAKSAT-1.
PAKSAT-1R has a design life of 15 years and will provide TV broadcasting, Internet and data communication services across South and Central Asia, Eastern Europe, East Africa and the Far East. This satellite now enables extending of communication services to all areas of Pakistan.
It may be recalled that the National Command Authority (NCA) recently approved Pakistan’s Space Programme-2040 during its meeting at the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) on 14 July 2011.
Earlier, the contract for the development of PAKSAT-1R was signed between Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) in October 2008 during the visit of the President of Pakistan to China.
Pakistani engineers have worked closely with their Chinese counterparts during all stages of development of the satellite in China. Some experimental units developed at SUPARCO have also been integrated on the satellite for technology evaluation.
China and Pakistan have enjoyed more than 20 years of cooperation in Space Science, Technology and Applications.
The launch of Paksat-1R Satellite is a major milestone for both countries towards strengthening of this cooperation. SUPARCO will continue its efforts for launching of other satellites including Remote Sensing Satellites, to ensure that the space technology applications fully contribute to socio-economic development and national security in Pakistan.
PAKSAT-1R has a design life of 15 years and will provide TV broadcasting, Internet and data communication services across South and Central Asia, Eastern Europe, East Africa and the Far East. This satellite now enables extending of communication services to all areas of Pakistan.
It may be recalled that the National Command Authority (NCA) recently approved Pakistan’s Space Programme-2040 during its meeting at the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) on 14 July 2011.
Earlier, the contract for the development of PAKSAT-1R was signed between Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) in October 2008 during the visit of the President of Pakistan to China.
Pakistani engineers have worked closely with their Chinese counterparts during all stages of development of the satellite in China. Some experimental units developed at SUPARCO have also been integrated on the satellite for technology evaluation.
China and Pakistan have enjoyed more than 20 years of cooperation in Space Science, Technology and Applications.
The launch of Paksat-1R Satellite is a major milestone for both countries towards strengthening of this cooperation. SUPARCO will continue its efforts for launching of other satellites including Remote Sensing Satellites, to ensure that the space technology applications fully contribute to socio-economic development and national security in Pakistan.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
With love from Chitral
KARACHI:
Australian national Cathy Braid came to Pakistan to attend a Chitral-based women’s weaving project called Shubinak in 2000. During her short visit she fell in love with Pakistan and moved here in 2003. Cathy spent the next three years in Chitral working with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, a non-governmental organisation, and Chitrali women on a clothing and bags line.
Cathy launched the brand Polly&Me with her sister Angela Braid in 2007. According to Angela, Polly&Me “is a grass-root level luxury bringing together traditional skills and the best of Pakistani leather and manufacturing.” The two sisters are based in Islamabad and manage everything from designing to production to sales. Wallets are priced at Rs8,500, whereas handbags are priced from Rs15,000 to Rs33,000.
When asked why only Chitrali women were chosen to participate in the Polly&Me project, Angela said, “Traditional embroidery skills are passed on by the women to the next generation in the villages of Chitral. Since it’s a traditional community most women in Chitral observe purdah (veil), so few work opportunities exist outside the home. We try to provide work in a socially acceptable environment. All centres are village-based and artisans can walk to the centres and collect work. Whether they want to work in the local centre or take the work home depends on the artisans’ choice entirely. This flexible work environment enables them to maintain their other roles within their home.”
In Angela’s words, the key objective of Polly&Me is “to create a platform for women to express themselves through their craft and designs and earn an income to give themselves and their community the chance to make a better life.”
While talking about her venture Angela adds, “A major shift in our design practice came in 2008, when we ran a series of creative workshops with the women artisans. The result was a sell-out show of 23 textiles, all designed and produced by the women. Our first non-profit project, Gup Shup: The Domestic, the Narrative and Cups of Chai, led to a wider artisan community supporting the project and allowed these women to develop small businesses within their local communities.”
Noorjehan Bilgrami allowed Polly&Me to be stocked at her gallery at Koel Cafe in Karachi because she wanted to show her support for the project. “I believe in the cause. The income that can be generated for Chitrali women — a portion of which goes directly back to their community — is a cause worth supporting.” This line can also be found in Islamabad and Lahore, at Nomads and Clayworks respectively.
Angela’s next project, Ramazan Diaries is a series of non-profit creative workshops at the end of which there will be an exhibition. “During Ramazan last year, we invited artisans to record their daily fast through pictures and words,” tells Angela. Fourteen women from three centres across Chitral kept a diary to record their daily activities during Ramazan, and this year, the artisans are using those diaries to inspire new designs. The Ramazan stories of these women are being embroidered on bags and wallets for the last three months, and one theme which is being focused on is the role of mothers in their households during Ramazan. Bibi, a Chitrali local, is one such individual who has shared her routine during Ramazan, from waking up every morning at 1:30 am to make food for her family while the rest of her household slept, till the evening meal.
Despite being uneducated herself, Bibi managed to tell her story by paying her 13-year-old daughter Rs5 everyday to record her fasts. The collection is expected to launch in October.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2011.
Australian national Cathy Braid came to Pakistan to attend a Chitral-based women’s weaving project called Shubinak in 2000. During her short visit she fell in love with Pakistan and moved here in 2003. Cathy spent the next three years in Chitral working with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, a non-governmental organisation, and Chitrali women on a clothing and bags line.
Cathy launched the brand Polly&Me with her sister Angela Braid in 2007. According to Angela, Polly&Me “is a grass-root level luxury bringing together traditional skills and the best of Pakistani leather and manufacturing.” The two sisters are based in Islamabad and manage everything from designing to production to sales. Wallets are priced at Rs8,500, whereas handbags are priced from Rs15,000 to Rs33,000.
When asked why only Chitrali women were chosen to participate in the Polly&Me project, Angela said, “Traditional embroidery skills are passed on by the women to the next generation in the villages of Chitral. Since it’s a traditional community most women in Chitral observe purdah (veil), so few work opportunities exist outside the home. We try to provide work in a socially acceptable environment. All centres are village-based and artisans can walk to the centres and collect work. Whether they want to work in the local centre or take the work home depends on the artisans’ choice entirely. This flexible work environment enables them to maintain their other roles within their home.”
In Angela’s words, the key objective of Polly&Me is “to create a platform for women to express themselves through their craft and designs and earn an income to give themselves and their community the chance to make a better life.”
While talking about her venture Angela adds, “A major shift in our design practice came in 2008, when we ran a series of creative workshops with the women artisans. The result was a sell-out show of 23 textiles, all designed and produced by the women. Our first non-profit project, Gup Shup: The Domestic, the Narrative and Cups of Chai, led to a wider artisan community supporting the project and allowed these women to develop small businesses within their local communities.”
Noorjehan Bilgrami allowed Polly&Me to be stocked at her gallery at Koel Cafe in Karachi because she wanted to show her support for the project. “I believe in the cause. The income that can be generated for Chitrali women — a portion of which goes directly back to their community — is a cause worth supporting.” This line can also be found in Islamabad and Lahore, at Nomads and Clayworks respectively.
Angela’s next project, Ramazan Diaries is a series of non-profit creative workshops at the end of which there will be an exhibition. “During Ramazan last year, we invited artisans to record their daily fast through pictures and words,” tells Angela. Fourteen women from three centres across Chitral kept a diary to record their daily activities during Ramazan, and this year, the artisans are using those diaries to inspire new designs. The Ramazan stories of these women are being embroidered on bags and wallets for the last three months, and one theme which is being focused on is the role of mothers in their households during Ramazan. Bibi, a Chitrali local, is one such individual who has shared her routine during Ramazan, from waking up every morning at 1:30 am to make food for her family while the rest of her household slept, till the evening meal.
Despite being uneducated herself, Bibi managed to tell her story by paying her 13-year-old daughter Rs5 everyday to record her fasts. The collection is expected to launch in October.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2011.
Pakistan IT firm tops world ranking with BlackBerry game
The Lahore-based Pepper.pk and Five Rivers Technologies made it to the number one spot across all categories on BlackBerry’s AppWorld on August 3 with their game Ninja Fruit Bash, developed for BlackBerry smartphones.
This was the third BlackBerry app developed by the local company to make it to number one on BlackBerry AppWorld.
Their other apps to reach number one include Photo Editor, an app that allows users to edit photographs from their hand-held devices, and LED Notifier, an app that blinks different colored LED for different contacts.
Mahe Zehra Husain, the Head of Operations and Product Management said “We are thrilled at this achievement. We already have two world number one utilities on BlackBerry AppWorld and adding a game to our family shows that not only can good code be developed for software utilities in Pakistan we can actually make amazing games as well!”
Ninja Fruit Bash Storyline
Ninja Fruit Bash follows the quest of a Ninja as he travels across China slicing tainted and poisoned fruit in order to save humanity.
The fruit is poisoned by the evil spirit of Orochi and is fatal if eaten. Orochi has turned fertile fruit gardens all over China into poisonous wasteland and our Ninja is on a mission – to return all the fruit gardens to their former glory.
This was the third BlackBerry app developed by the local company to make it to number one on BlackBerry AppWorld.
Their other apps to reach number one include Photo Editor, an app that allows users to edit photographs from their hand-held devices, and LED Notifier, an app that blinks different colored LED for different contacts.
Mahe Zehra Husain, the Head of Operations and Product Management said “We are thrilled at this achievement. We already have two world number one utilities on BlackBerry AppWorld and adding a game to our family shows that not only can good code be developed for software utilities in Pakistan we can actually make amazing games as well!”
Ninja Fruit Bash Storyline
Ninja Fruit Bash follows the quest of a Ninja as he travels across China slicing tainted and poisoned fruit in order to save humanity.
The fruit is poisoned by the evil spirit of Orochi and is fatal if eaten. Orochi has turned fertile fruit gardens all over China into poisonous wasteland and our Ninja is on a mission – to return all the fruit gardens to their former glory.
Pak launches communications satellite
Pakistan’s communications satellite, Paksat-IR was launched by China’s satellite launch vehicle from the Xichang launch centre in Sichuan province on Thursday placing Pakistan in the League of Nations owning and operating communications satellites.
The launching ceremony was attended by top-level officials of Pakistan and China including Secretaries for Defence, Foreign Affairs, Director General Strategic Plans Division and Pakistani Ambassador. It was a big achievement for Pakistani engineers who worked closely with their Chinese counterparts during all stages of development of the satellite. Some experimental units developed at SUPARCO were integrated for technology evaluation. The successful launch from Chinese territory demonstrated once again the deep rooted and strategic ties between the two countries. The satellite will be deployed at 380E in the geo-stationary orbit and will replace the Paksat-1. Pakistan entered the space age with the formal launching of a second hand purchased Paksat-I in January 2003. Since then our scientists and engineers had been making endeavours to launch indigenous satellite and ensure country’s permanent presence in the space. Paksat-IR has 30 transponders, design life of 15 years and will provide TV broadcasting, internet and data communications services in South and Central Asia, Eastern Europe, East Africa and the Far East. That is a significant achievement but in the present age of scientific developments, countries are moving fast and deployed satellites which are being used for spying and other military purposes as well. We hope that SUPARCO and other organisations are well aware of the challenges ahead and would not let the country down in the field of space technology.
The launching ceremony was attended by top-level officials of Pakistan and China including Secretaries for Defence, Foreign Affairs, Director General Strategic Plans Division and Pakistani Ambassador. It was a big achievement for Pakistani engineers who worked closely with their Chinese counterparts during all stages of development of the satellite. Some experimental units developed at SUPARCO were integrated for technology evaluation. The successful launch from Chinese territory demonstrated once again the deep rooted and strategic ties between the two countries. The satellite will be deployed at 380E in the geo-stationary orbit and will replace the Paksat-1. Pakistan entered the space age with the formal launching of a second hand purchased Paksat-I in January 2003. Since then our scientists and engineers had been making endeavours to launch indigenous satellite and ensure country’s permanent presence in the space. Paksat-IR has 30 transponders, design life of 15 years and will provide TV broadcasting, internet and data communications services in South and Central Asia, Eastern Europe, East Africa and the Far East. That is a significant achievement but in the present age of scientific developments, countries are moving fast and deployed satellites which are being used for spying and other military purposes as well. We hope that SUPARCO and other organisations are well aware of the challenges ahead and would not let the country down in the field of space technology.
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