ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national space agency announced on Monday that it would launch the country’s first indigenous Electro-Optical (EO-1) satellite on Jan. 17, state-run media reported, to help enhance monitoring of natural disasters and manage natural resources efficiently. 

The EO-1 satellite will be launched from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported. It added that its launch represents the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission’s (SUPARCO) dedication and expertise in advancing Pakistan’s technological capabilities in space science.

The state media said the satellite will enhance the country’s ability to monitor and manage natural resources, predict and respond to natural disasters, support food security and drive economic growth through informed decision-making and sustainable development.

“The EO-1 satellite offers substantial benefits across various sectors in Pakistan,” APP said. “In agriculture, it will enable precision farming by monitoring crops, assessing irrigation needs, predicting yields and supporting food security initiatives.”

The report said that in urban development, the satellite can help in tracking infrastructure growth, managing urban sprawl and aiding city and regional planning efforts. 

“In environmental monitoring and disaster management, it will provide timely updates on floods, landslides, earthquakes, deforestation, and land erosion,” it added. 

The EO-1 satellite will also support extraction and conservation strategies for natural resources, such as the monitoring of minerals, oil and gas fields, glacier recession and water resources.

“The launch of the EO-1 satellite marks a momentous milestone in Pakistan’s space journey,” APP said. 

Pakistan has taken strides in its space research program in the past few months. In November 2024, SUPARCO announced its rover will join China’s Chang’E 8 mission to explore the moon’s surface in 2028.

In May 2024, Pakistan launched its first lunar satellite aboard China’s Chang’e-6 probe, which was tasked with landing on the far side of the moon that perpetually faces away from the Earth. China was the first country to make such an ambitious attempt.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered authorities to investigate a roadside bomb blast in the country’s southwestern Turbat city that killed one person, vowing to bring the culprits to book and continue the state’s war against militants. 

The incident follows the Jan. 4 blast near Turbat when at least five paramilitary soldiers were killed and over two dozen others injured after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeted a bus carrying security personnel. 

Monday’s roadside bomb blast in Turbat killed one person, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the incident. 

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemns the roadside bomb blast in Turbat,” a statement from Sharif’s office said. “The prime minister has directed the incident be investigated.”

Sharif said those responsible for the blast should be immediately identified and punished. 

“We will continue the war against terrorism until Pakistan is cleansed of it,” Sharif said. “Those who carry out such terrorist activities are enemies of the development of Balochistan.”

Balochistan, a mineral-rich province sharing borders with Iran and Afghanistan, has faced an insurgency for decades, which has intensified in recent years. The Baloch separatists accuse the Pakistani state of exploiting the region’s resources without adequately benefiting its population. 

However, Pakistani governments deny the allegations, saying they have launched several development projects to promote prosperity and improve the lives of residents in the province.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), with a strong presence in Balochistan, has emerged as a major threat to the state, carrying out deadly attacks, including suicide bombings, to target Pakistani security forces. 

According to provincial administration data, Balochistan witnessed a dramatic surge in militant violence in 2024, resulting in about 300 deaths in over 550 attacks.