ISLAMABAD: Coordinator General OICComste ch Prof M. Iqbal Choudhary said space and aerospace technologies were no longer confined to a few advanced countries, as satellites had become central to communications, navigation, weather forecasting, agriculture, water management, disaster response and climate monitoring.
Speaking at a three-day International Aerospace Technology Exhibition and Conference opened at the OICComstech Secretariat, he said the rapidly expanding global space economy presented both an opportunity and a necessity for OIC member states.
While several member countries had made significant advances, the OIC region still remained heavily dependent on imported technologies and services.
Prof Choudhary called for greater investment in people, research, industry and indigenous technological capability so that member states could design, build and use space technologies according to their own needs while sharing expertise and costs through stronger cooperation.
The conferencebroughttogetheraerospace experts,researchers,industryrepresentatives, diplomats and students to discuss emerging space technologies and prospects for greater indigenous capability andinternationalcooperation.
The conference, being held from Nov 11 to 13, is organised by OIC-Comstech in collaboration with the Pakistan Vacuum Society and Pakistan Aerospace Council, with support from partnerinstitutions.
Around 18 companies, start-ups, research institutions and incubation centres are showcasing technologies and products at the accompanying exhibition. Exhibitors included Trojan,Connectech, Suparco, Air University, NICAT and Citadel, Pakistan Vacuum Society among others.
More than 20 technical presentations are scheduledduringthethree-dayprogramme, covering aerospace strategy and industry development, satellite platforms, navigation and communications, human spaceflight and space life sciences, earth observation, remote sensing, geospatial artificial intelligence and vacuum technologies.
Experts from Pakistan and abroad, including speakers from the United States, Azerbaijan and Sudan, were participating.
Sessions will examine issues ranging from space markets and small satellite technologies to lunar missions, satellite communications, human health in space, Earth observation, machine learning for geospatial applications and advanced vacuum systems.
Chief guest retired Air Marshal Javaid Ahmed, President of the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies, said space capabilities had become increasingly important for modern societies, economies, communications and national security.
He stressed the need for indigenous expertise, strong human resources and greater private-sector participationin a highly specialised field requiring sustained investment. He also commended Comstech and its partner institutions for bringing academia, industry and policymakers together at a time of rapid technological change.
Delivering a keynote address titled ‘From Dependency to Dominance’, founder of the Pakistan Aerospace Council and Chairman Rastgar Group of Industries Imtiaz Rastgar highlighted the need to reduce technological dependence by strengthening domestic aerospace capabilities and building closer links between research, industry and market needs.