He said space was a common heritage of mankind and Pakistan would carve out a niche for itself in the peaceful exploitation and use of space for the benefit of its people.
The President was speaking to the scientists and engineers of Pakistan's space agency Suparco during a visit to its plant near Karachi. He said Pakistan needed to make up for lost time and neglect of the past. His government had put the space programme up front and on a fast track, the President said.
He mentioned the initiatives like revitalisation, restructuring, reorientation and modernisation of Suparco and bringing it at par with other strategic organisations.
Musharraf said the government had focussed on investment in human resource development and set a clear vision to be achieved in the areas of communications satellites, remote sensing satellites, satellite launch vehicles. The objective was rapid growth and socio-economic development in the fields of mass education, Information Technology, communications, agriculture, mineral development, atmospheric sciences, environment and pollution monitoring.
President Musharraf said it was incumbent on Suparco that with all the financial and administrative backing of the government it must deliver on the objectives of the space vision.
He was confident that Pakistan would, in the near future, emerge strongly on the space map of the world and would be able to derive the necessary benefits for its people.
Earlier, on arrival, Suparco Chairman Major General Raza Hussain (Retd) briefed the President. The President visited various laboratories and facilities and appreciated the renewed vigour, dedication and motivation of the young engineers working on different projects.