Pakistan on Saturday achieved a “major milestone” in its space programme with the successful launch of an indigenous Electro-Optical Satellite (EO-3), the military’s media wing said.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the satellite was launched from China’s Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre with the support of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO).

According to Xinhua, the satellite lifted off at 8:15pm (Beijing Time) aboard a Long March-6 carrier rocket and successfully entered its planned orbit. The launch marked the 640th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

Describing the development as a “historic achievement”, the ISPR statement said the launch of EO-3 marked “yet another significant milestone; a step forward in Pakistan’s journey towards self-reliance and technological excellence”.

The ISPR said the satellite would provide imaging data to support a wide range of national needs. “The satellite will provide imaging data to revolutionise urban planning, disaster management, food security and environment protection,” it added.

It added that the successful deployment would lay the foundation for an integrated Earth Observation System to support national priorities across multiple sectors and contribute to sustainable socio-economic development.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the efforts behind the mission. “The successful launch of EO-3 reflects the professional excellence and unwavering commitment of SUPARCO’s engineers and scientists,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.

He also acknowledged the role of Pakistan’s long-standing partner, adding that the government deeply appreciated the continued support of China in advancing Pakistan’s space capabilities.

President Asif Ali Zardari described the successful launch as a “historic milestone”.

He said the launch was a “clear manifestation of Pakistan’s self-reliance, scientific expertise, and growing capability in space technology”.

Appreciating the professional capabilities of SUPARCO’s engineers and scientists, the president said that their hard work was aligning Pakistan with modern requirements.

“The president also commended the consistent and reliable cooperation of Pakistan’s close friend China in the space sector and said that this collaboration is playing an important role in bilateral scientific and technological development,” said a statement.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also congratulated the nation on the successful launch of a locally developed electro-optical satellite with China’s cooperation.

He appreciated the professional expertise and hard work of scientists and engineers involved in the mission, saying, “I pay tribute to the tireless efforts and professional excellence of our scientists, engineers and experts.”

Describing the launch as a major achievement, he further said that Pakistan-China friendship was also advancing into new domains, including space, adding that this milestone would pave the way for future progress.

The minister noted that the satellite would support multiple sectors and significantly enhance Earth observation capabilities, improving remote sensing, data accuracy and policy-making across various fields.