Key Points
- National space agency unveils new technology at Cholistan Desert Rally 2026
- Pak-SBAS uses satellite-based augmentation to improve positional accuracy and signal stability
- Tested under extreme desert conditions, demonstrating reliability for competitive motorsports
- Technology has wider applications in disaster response, aviation, fleet management, and surveying
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national space agency, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), introduced the Pak-SBAS, an advanced navigation device, during the Cholistan Rally 2026.
The device is based on the Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS), which enhances the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of standard global navigation satellite systems, according to a press release issued by SUPARCO on Sunday.
The Cholistan Rally is Pakistan’s premier off-road desert motorsport event, held annually in the Cholistan Desert in southern Punjab.
The rally spans hundreds of kilometres across arid terrain, challenging drivers with high speeds, shifting dunes, and minimal visual references, making it a rigorous test of skill, endurance, and navigation technology.
Pak-SBAS was tested under these challenging desert conditions, demonstrating exceptional positional accuracy and consistent signal stability throughout the rally stages, offering precise navigation support for competitive desert racing.
By incorporating SBAS corrections, the Pak-SBAS significantly reduced positional errors compared with conventional standalone satellite navigation systems.
Rally teams benefited from more reliable routing, faster decision-making, and increased safety in extreme environments.
SUPARCO emphasised that the Pak-SBAS has applications beyond motorsports. It can be used to track rescue teams and affected zones during disasters, improve fleet management and logistics efficiency, enhance aviation navigation safety, and minimise errors and costs in surveying and mapping projects.
The launch of the Pak-SBAS appears to be a significant step toward Pakistan’s technological self-reliance, providing critical tools to enhance public safety, operational efficiency, and precision navigation capabilities.
