KARACHI, Oct 2  - The World Space Week (WSW), an international celebration of the contribution that space science and technology makes to the betterment of the human condition, will also be marked in 10 cities of Pakistan including Karachi.

This was stated by an official of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) here on Tuesday.

It was pointed out that the United Nations has declared World Space Week as October 4-10 annually.

It is celebrated in some 65 nations of the world including Pakistan.

During WSW, events and educational programmes related to space are held globally.

SUPARCO, as a national space agency, has been regularly conducting WSW activities each year since 2005 to increase awareness of space technology and to promote its peaceful usage amongst students and the masses in Pakistan.

This year, SUPARCO has extended WSW activities throughout Pakistan with the partnership of key educational institutions of Pakistan.

The theme of the WSW 2012 is 'Space for Human Safety and Security'.

The National Space Agency will hold an inauguration ceremony of WSW on October 4 at the National Center for Remote Sensing and Geo Informatics (NCRG) Karachi to formally commence World Space Week 2012 celebration in Pakistan.

The chief guest for the ceremony will be Peer Mazhar-Ul-Haq, Provincial Minister of Education and Literacy.

A specially designed mobile education bus equipped with multimedia shall leave to create awareness of space through lectures, multimedia presentations and video shows in towns and villages of Sindh.

On the same day, Quiz Contest and Water Rocket Competition for different public and private school students shall also be held at SUPARCO headquarters.

Declamation contest and seminar on WSW 2012 theme 'Space for Human Safety and Security' have also been arranged on October 5 and 9 respectively.

SUPARCO, in collaboration with PIA Planetarium Karachi, has also arranged Sky Simulation shows and lectures for school students on 05, 08 and 09 October 2012.

The celebrations in Karachi will culminate with a two-day Space Family Fair on 06 and 07 October, that is planned to be held at PAF Museum, Karachi.

Finals of quiz, declamation, poster and model making competitions will also be held followed by a closing ceremony announcing the winners of the various contests conducted during the week.

The Space Family Fair will include different activities like sky observation, kids arena, food court, space movies, space photography and water rocket demonstration.

The activities of WSW 2012 will be held simultaneously in 10 cities of Pakistan including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Gilgit, Quetta, Faisalabad, Abottabad, Bahawalpur and Hyderabad, it was further stated.