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The '''Pakistan Antarctic Programme''' ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|برنامہَ پاکستان برائے قطبِ جنوبی}}}}), abbreviated as '''PAP''') is a scientific administrative division of the [[Ministry of Science and Technology (Pakistan)|Ministry of Science and Technology]] (MoST) which represents the [[Government of Pakistan]] on the [[continent]] of [[Antarctica]]. The program coordinates scientific research and operational support in the region. The program is funded by the Pakistan Science Foundation and the Ministry of Science and Technology.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=(NIO)|first=National Institute of Oceanography|author-link=National Institute of Oceanography (Pakistan)|date=|title=Antarctic Research Programme|url=//www.niopk.gov.pk/antarct.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007002411/http://www.niopk.gov.pk/antarct.html|archive-date=7 October 2006|access-date=24 August 2010|work=National Institute of Oceanography|publisher=NIO and Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST)|format=[[Web cache]]|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Currently, the PAP maintains and controls two polar stations in the region: the [[Jinnah Antarctic Station]] (JNS), and the Polar Research Cell (PRC), which was established by the [[National Institute of Oceanography (Pakistan)|National Institute of Oceanography]] to co-ordinate all Antarctic related activities.<ref name=":0" />

The Antarctic Programme was launched by the [[National Institute of Oceanography (Pakistan)|National Institute of Oceanography]], with the full support of [[Pakistan Navy]]'s Naval Weapons Engineering Division (NWED). In 1991, Prime minister [[Nawaz Sharif]] established the programme under the direction of the Navy. On 15 June 1992, Pakistan became an Associate Member of the [[Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research]], but did not accede to the [[Antarctic Treaty]] due to economic reasons.<ref name=":1">{{Cite encyclopedia|year=2007|title=Pakistan|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of the Antarctic|url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_the_Antarctic/fRJtB2MNdJMC?gbpv=1|last=Riffenburgh|first=Beau|page=661|isbn=0-415-97024-5}}</ref>

In January 1991, Pakistan dispatched its first expedition to [[Greater Antarctica]] under the auspices of the [[National Institute of Oceanography (Pakistan)|National Institute of Oceanography]] (NIO).<ref name=":1" /> As the programme was led by the Navy, the PN dispatched a small group of [[Pakistan Marines]], along with the team of scientists on board the destroyer [[PNS Tariq (D165)|PNS Tariq]] and the research vessel [[PNS Behr Paima]]. Facilities were quickly established in the region, and [[Jinnah Antarctic Station]] (JNS) was commissioned. The station houses an unmanned automatic Weather Station, from which data are transmitted to Pakistan via [[Argos System|Argos Satellite System]].<ref name=":1" /> In 2001, the [[Badr-B]] was connected to the Weather Station after it was launched by [[SUPARCO]]. In 2006, Pakistan established the National Institute of Oceanography's Polar Research Cell (PRC).

A number of national organisations are involved in Antarctic activities and are active participants in the Pakistan Antarctic Programme.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Antarctic Research|url=http://www.niopk.gov.pk/Antarctic.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217125703/http://www.niopk.gov.pk/Antarctic.aspx|archive-date=17 February 2012|access-date=2011-12-29|website=National Institute of Oceanography|publisher=Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of Pakistan|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Both stations' data are transmitted to Pakistan via the [[Badr-B]] Satellite. However, the new [[Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite|Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite System]] was launched in late 2011 to replace the [[Badr satellite program|Badr satellite system program]].

==Objectives==
[[Image:Antarctican_bases.png|thumb|Nations of the world that have [[Research stations in Antarctica|stations on the continent of Antarctica]] as of 2016.]]
The main objectives of the Pakistan Antarctic Programme are to undertake multidisciplinary research and [[Surveying|survey]] the Antarctic region, with particular attention to geology and [[geophysics]]. Studies also include [[environment (biophysical)|environmental]] and [[oceanography|oceanographic]] research.

Pakistan's research activities are in conformity with the tenets of the [[Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research]] (SCAR), of which Pakistan is an associate member. Pakistanis have gained experience and capability by launching two major expeditions, thus strengthening [[Pakistan]]'s ability to conduct research in the harsh [[Antarctic]] environment. Apart from this, useful environmental and oceanographic data has been collected in the region, and relevant technical information on Antarctic affairs has been provided to the Pakistani government.<ref name="auto"/>

==Stations==

Pakistan maintains two summer research stations and one weather observatory in the vicinity of the [[Sør Rondane Mountains]], [[Queen Maud Land]], in [[Eastern Antarctica]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-eager-to-revive-antarctic-expedition-1.74813273|title=Pakistan eager to revive Antarctic expedition|work=Gulf News|date=25 October 2020|accessdate=24 December 2020|first=Sana|last=Jamal}}</ref> The [[Jinnah Antarctic Station]] is the centre of most operations, and travel to and from Antarctica is done through the airfield at the JAS.<ref name="auto"/>

Pakistan is developing a full-fledged permanent base in [[Antarctica]], which will allow researchers to carry out year-round operations.<ref>{{cite web|last=Molle|first=Kris|date=29 October 2010|title=Pakistan and Antarctica|url=http://www.polarconservation.org/education/antarctic-bases/pakistan-and-antarctica/pakistan-and-antarctica|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128171202/http://www.polarconservation.org/education/antarctic-bases/pakistan-and-antarctica/pakistan-and-antarctica|archive-date=28 January 2012|access-date=2011-10-03|website=Polar Conservation Organisation|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100815075238/http://www.niopk.gov.pk/antarct.html Antarctic Research] National Institute of Oceanography, Karachi

{{Science and technology in Pakistan}}

[[Category:Pakistan Antarctic Programme| ]]
[[Category:Science and technology in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Science and technology in Antarctica]]
[[Category:Nawaz Sharif administration]]
[[Category:Naval operations involving Pakistan]]
[[Category:History of science and technology in Pakistan|P]]

Pakistan Antarctic Programme - Revision history

->Contrawwftw: reformatted references