Peshawar (Khyber Mail): The Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and the National Centre of Excellence in Geology (NCEG), University of Peshawar, have reinforced their scientific collaboration through two significant agreements: a landmark partnership for lunar sample research and the extension of their existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for another five years.
In a major step forward for Pakistan’s space and planetary science research, SUPARCO and NCEG have signed an agreement to collaborate on the study of lunar samples. The agreement was formally signed by Mr. Zafar Iqbal, Member Space Applications and Research, SUPARCO, and Prof. Dr. Liaqat Ali, Director, NCEG, in the presence of a SUPARCO delegation and NCEG faculty.
Under this collaboration, SUPARCO will loan lunar samples to NCEG to conduct elemental and mineralogical characterization of lunar soil, contributing to the development of a National Spectral Library. A Steering Committee comprising representatives from both institutions has been formed to oversee research activities and ensure compliance with the agreement.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Zafar Iqbal highlighted the importance of this collaboration in advancing space science research, while Prof. Dr. Liaqat Ali expressed gratitude for SUPARCO’s trust in NCEG’s research capabilities.
Alongside the lunar research agreement, the existing MoU between SUPARCO and NCEG—originally signed on February 6, 2012, and previously extended in 2016—has been renewed for another five years to continue joint efforts in resource management and disaster risk reduction using remote sensing technologies.
Under this MoU, both organizations will collaborate on the exchange of scientific and technical data for mutual research interests, identification of national and global challenges (e.g., climate change) and formulation of joint mitigation projects, joint supervision of graduate students on relevant research topics, development of geohazard maps to support disaster risk reduction, organization of workshops, seminars, and symposia to foster academic and scientific collaboration, exchange visits of research personnel for joint research and capacity building, and pursuing funding opportunities for cooperative projects.
The SUPARCO delegation, led by Mr. Zafar Iqbal (Member, Space Applications and Research Wing) and Dr. Said Rahman (Deputy Chief Manager, Dir SPARC), was warmly received by NCEG faculty during the ceremony. As part of their visit, the delegation toured NCEG’s state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities, expressing keen interest in expanding future collaborations in the fields of mineral exploration, geohazards, and disaster management.
The lunar research partnership and MoU extension mark historic milestones in Pakistan’s advancement in space science, geology, and disaster management. These initiatives reinforce SUPARCO and NCEG’s commitment to pioneering research, global scientific collaboration, and the development of innovative solutions for national and international challenges.