Islamabad: Pakistan marked a significant milestone in its space programme on Thursday with the successful launch of its second indigenous Earth Observation Satellite (EO-2) from China's Yangjiang Seashore Launch Centre.

Developed by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the EO-2 satellite is expected to enhance Pakistan's earth observation capabilities, providing high-resolution imagery for critical applications such as national development planning, natural resource management, and environmental monitoring. The satellite will also support urban expansion efforts, disaster management, climate analysis, and strategic decision-making.

SUPARCO officials hailed the launch as a major achievement, emphasising that EO-2's addition to Pakistan's satellite fleet will improve data continuity, coverage, and precision.

The successful development and launch of EO-2 underline Pakistan's growing technical expertise and self-reliance in advanced satellite technology, marking a key step in the country's space journey.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the nation on the satellite's successful launch and also paid tribute to the scientists and researchers who worked on it. "This satellite will help in collecting critical data, climate monitoring, and obtaining important information and images for urban planning."