ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: The ministry of science and technology (MoST) has decided to establish a ‘National Institute of Space Technology’ in the capital.

The decision was taken at a meeting that was presided over by the minister in charge of science and technology, Prof (Dr) Attaur Rehman, here on Wednesday.

The minister said the institute, first of its kind in the Muslim world, would eliminate all hindrances to acquiring knowledge and training in aerospace. It will also ensure the country’s sovereignty in this field, he added.

Besides offering courses at MS and PhD levels, the institute will also provide advanced research facilities in space sciences, Prof Ata said.

“Due to continuous advancements made in this discipline around the world, it has become extremely important for Pakistan to have an institute of space technology with advanced facilities of education and research with highly-qualified manpower,” he added.

He said it was high time for Pakistan to end dependency on foreign nations in terms of training and manufacture of equipment related to space technologies.

On the occasion, a committee constituted to prepare plans for the institute informed the minister that the institute would conduct advanced innovative research and development activities in various disciplines of space sciences and technologies such as satellites, launch vehicles, remote sensing imagery, urban planning and climate/environmental change.

About 100 Pakistani students would be sponsored by the institute for PhD studies in space and related disciplines at world’s leading universities.

The institute will offer research and development facilities in aerospace engineering, communications, computational mathematics and earth and space sciences.