Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has inaugurated the Space Applications and Research Center (SPARC-GB) in a ceremony held on Wednesday.
Gulbar Khan, the chief guest of Gilgit-Baltistan, attended the event to mark the opening of Pakistan’s first space research hub in the country’s northern province.
The establishment of SPARC-GB is a major turning point since it will be essential in addressing urgent environmental and socioeconomic problems. The center will focus on important topics like water resource management, glacier melt, and climate change. According to a SUPARCO news release, it seeks to establish itself as an essential center for tracking natural disasters and protecting biodiversity.
In his welcome address, SUPARCO Chairman Muhammad Yousuf Khan described SPARC-GB as a center for cutting-edge research and innovation. Khan also emphasized the region’s heightened vulnerability to climate change, stressing the importance of swift action and enhanced local capabilities. With the center’s operationalization, satellite-based monitoring systems will be strengthened to better address environmental challenges in the region.
The event was joined by researchers, scientists, environmentalists, and students, highlighting the goal of SPARC-GB to promote innovation and provide answers to the environmental problems facing the area. Outfitted with cutting-edge space-based technologies, the center is anticipated to provide vital information on landslide hazards, glacier monitoring, and erratic weather patterns, guaranteeing the security and adaptability of nearby towns.
