SWOT Analysis of Pakistan’s Space Program

Abstract

Outer space in Pakistan is a trivial notion, and the idea has become less concerning for the authorities let alone the general masses. For decades, this field has been void of any particularly outstanding and significant development in the country with only a handful of satellites launched in outer space. Where the world has progressed in space technology utilizing it for exploring, exploiting, and now even racing to dominate the global common, that is the outer space, Pakistan‟s space program has been lagging and misses the opportunities that a robust outer space program provides, all the while ignoring the threats that arise from a weak space program. The significance of outer space has increased over the years in both civilian and military domains, where militarization outer space is now being transformed into a weaponization phenomenon. The space race that began in the Asian region with the Soviet Union inspired periphery states such as Pakistan to join space faring. Pakistan was the third country in Asia to establish its space agency; however, over time, it has lost its acclaimed position. Over time, it has grown weak with minimal research and development (R&D) in the field. Pakistan‟s space program lacks a place in the literature, and academic discussions and this study aims at filling that gap by analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities for the space program of Pakistan.