Pakistan’s national space agency launches country’s first Hyperspectral Satellite 

The picture shared by Pakistan's federal minister, Dr. Tariq Fazal Ch., on October 19, 2025, shows the launch of Hyperspectral Satellite in China. (@DrTariqFazal/X)
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Updated 19 October 2025
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Pakistan’s national space agency launches country’s first Hyperspectral Satellite 

  • Pakistan says satellite to enhance agriculture, environmental monitoring, disaster management capabilities
  • Islamabad says scientists and technical teams from both Pakistan and China worked on the HS-1 satellite 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national space agency has launched the country’s first Hyperspectral Satellite (HS-1) from the Chinese Satellite Launch Center, the foreign ministry said on Sunday, stressing the technology would help capture data to enhance capabilities in precision agriculture, urban planning and disaster management. 

The foreign ministry said the HS-1 is equipped with advanced hyperspectral imaging technology that can capture data across hundreds of narrow spectral bands. It added that this capability will enable precise monitoring and analysis of land use, vegetation health, water resources and urban development.

“The satellite is expected to significantly enhance national capacities in areas such as precision agriculture, environmental monitoring, urban planning, and disaster management,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said. 

“Its high-resolution data will support improved resource management and strengthen Pakistan’s resilience to climate-related challenges.”

The ministry said HS-1 would also contribute to development initiatives, including the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an energy and infrastructure network of roads, railways and energy projects connecting China to Pakistan’s Gwadar port. 

“HS-1 will contribute to development initiatives, including the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by identifying geo-hazard risks and promoting sustainable infrastructure development,” the statement said. 

The foreign ministry said scientists and technical teams from China and Pakistan worked on the HS-1 satellite technology. 

“This achievement also highlights the long-standing collaboration between Pakistan and China in the peaceful exploration of space and its application for socioeconomic progress,” it said. 

The new satellite joins Pakistan’s growing remote-sensing fleet, which includes PRSS-1 launched in 2018 and two Earth-observation satellites— EO-1 and KS-1— placed in orbit earlier this year.


Pakistan rejects Amnesty claims of Israeli spyware use, calls reports ‘disinformation’

Updated 05 December 2025
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Pakistan rejects Amnesty claims of Israeli spyware use, calls reports ‘disinformation’

  • FO denies any link with Israel, says Pakistan has “absolutely no cooperation” on surveillance tools
  • Islamabad accuses India of delaying clearance for relief aircraft bound for flood-hit Sri Lanka

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday rejected an Amnesty International report alleging the use of Israeli-made invasive spyware in the country, calling the findings speculative and misleading.

Amnesty’s investigation, published Thursday under the title Intellexa Leaks, cited the case of a Pakistan-based human rights lawyer who reported receiving a suspicious WhatsApp link in 2025. According to Amnesty International’s Security Lab, the link bore signatures consistent with Predator, a spyware product developed by Israeli manufacturer c

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi dismissed the suggestion that Islamabad had deployed the tool or maintained any technological cooperation with Israel.

“These are all media speculations. These are all rumor-mongering and disinformation. There is absolutely no cooperation between Pakistan and Israel on anything, let alone a spyware or these kinds of tools. So, I would reject it quite emphatically,” he said at a weekly briefing.

Andrabi also accused India of obstructing humanitarian operations, saying New Delhi delayed flight clearance for a Pakistani relief aircraft carrying aid to flood-affected Sri Lanka.

“The special aircraft carrying Pakistan’s relief goods had to wait for 48 hours, in fact more than 48 hours, around 60 hours, while the flight clearance from India was delayed,” he said.

He added that the eventual conditional flight window was too narrow to be workable.

“The partial flight clearance which eventually was given after 48 hours was operationally impractical, time-bound just for a few hours and hence not operable, severely hindering the urgent need for the relief mission for the brotherly people of Sri Lanka,” Andrabi stated.

“Humanitarian assistance is like justice, if it is delayed, it is denied.”

Responding to India’s claim that clearance was granted within four hours, he said Pakistan has documentary proof contradicting New Delhi’s version.

On a separate question about reported delays in the arrival of a Turkish delegation aimed at mediating between Islamabad and Kabul, Andrabi said Pakistan welcomed Ankara’s initiative but was unaware of the cause of postponement.

“We stand ready to receive the Turkish delegation. That delegation has not arrived as yet. And I’m not aware of any schedule. Pakistan is ready to hold negotiations, discussions,” he said, adding that the delay may be linked to coordination with the Afghan side.