Farooq Awan

Pakistan’s external development financing portfolio for FY26 continued to include China-supported space and satellite projects, with key initiatives listed under ongoing and pipeline financing arrangements, according to the Foreign Economic Assistance Monthly Report for November 2025 issued by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The document lists the Pakistan Multi-Mission Communication Satellite (PakSat-MM1) project among the externally financed initiatives supported through Chinese cooperation. The project is recorded under the communications and space technology sector and is included in the report’s project tables as part of Pakistan’s broader external assistance framework.

In addition to PakSat-MM1, the report also includes the Pakistan Space Centre project, which is listed under the same sector and indicates continued external financing engagement in space-related infrastructure and technology development. Both projects are presented as part of the FY26 portfolio and are listed separately from transport, energy and social sector initiatives.

According to the report, the space and satellite projects are financed through Chinese funding arrangements, with the lender and executing agency details provided in the project listings. The projects are categorised under federal-level initiatives and are included in the consolidated external financing data for the reporting period.

Within the overall external assistance portfolio, the space and satellite projects are listed alongside initiatives in communications, information technology and scientific infrastructure. These projects are grouped separately from provincial initiatives, reflecting their federal scope and national-level implementation.

The report also distinguishes Chinese-supported projects from those financed by multilateral lenders, listing them under bilateral financing arrangements. This allows for a clear view of bilateral cooperation projects within the broader external financing framework.

By including PakSat-MM1 and the Pakistan Space Centre in the FY26 project listings, the November 2025 report presents a consolidated snapshot of ongoing and planned external assistance in the space and satellite sector. The projects form part of the range of externally financed initiatives recorded in Pakistan’s official external assistance data for the reporting period.

Credit: INP-WealthPk