Pakistan Antarctic Programme

[1] The Antarctic Programme was launched by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), with the full support of Pakistan Navy's Naval Weapons Engineering Division (NWED).

This expedition also established an unmanned automatic Weather Station at a third location (the Iqbal Observatory),[3] from which data are transmitted to Pakistan via the Argos Satellite System.

In October 2010, a source with the NIO stated that Pakistan is developing a full-fledged permanent base in Antarctica, which will allow researchers to carry out year-round operations.

Pakistanis have gained experience and capability by launching two major expeditions, thus strengthening Pakistan's ability to conduct research in the harsh Antarctic environment.

[4] Pakistan maintains two summer research stations and one weather observatory in the vicinity of the Sør Rondane Mountains, Queen Maud Land, in Eastern Antarctica.