Our Staff Reporter
Bahawalpur

The Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB) will shortly launch a students’ satellite in the collaboration of Suparco as the project is underway, reflecting the faculty members and students commitment and potential to earn distinction for nation and country. The project aims at gaining knowledge to explore space limits as did our forefathers centuries ago by laying foundation to discover the mystery of space and unveiled the hidden truths of space system for better knowledge of mankind.
This was disclosed by IUB Vice-Chancellor Dr Rao Muhammad Afzal Khan at the inaugural ceremony of the World Space Week at the university.
He said that this development would be a milestone in the IUB history and would show establish that Pakistani students were equally talented as compared to the students of any part of the developed world.
On the occasion, Suparco Director Shuja Taemori said that the first ever satellite of the world was launched on Oct 4, 1957 while Pakistan launched its first ever Satellite Rehbar (1st) in 1962 and became the 10th country of the world and Asia’s 3rd which succeeded in owning space technology.
He said that more satellites and rockets would be launched till 2017 while Pak Sat-1 and Pak Sat-R were currently in the space and providing necessary information.
Suparco Deputy Director General Eng Shakil Zahid remarked that space technology would help the students a lot and they could easily get information about anything including the natural calamities, climatic changes and drought chances well before time besides any information from all over the world without any delay through satellites. He claimed that the Suparco had done a remarkable service in the socio-economic uplift of the country and many member countries of the OIC.
He disclosed that according to Vision 2047, a number of projects would be started at local level for better outcome and motive of observing the Space week was only to develop awareness among students about space and attract them towards progress in this field.
Focal person of Space Week activities, Dean, Faculty of Science and Education Dr Asghar Hashmi in his welcome address highlighted objectives of the event.
Punjab Minister for Cooperatives Malik Iqbal Channar and former MPA Syed Tabish Alveri also addressed the ceremony.
A number of students of the university, colleges and schools took part in World Space Week competitions including quiz show, speech and painting competitions awhile an exhibition was also arranged to highlight progress space technology.