RaheQamar

RaheQamar (راہ قمر) aka R-E-Q is a private funded project for the propagation of educational content on Space exploration for Pakistanis within the country and abroad. A group of students from the Institute of Space Technology in Islamabad, Pakistan, have embarked on a mission to propagate space education to the general masses. With a motto "Every step we take is a milestone!"

In early 1960s, Pakistan had the first space rocketry program in the region in collaboration with NASA. Political and economic situation of the country and multiple international sanctions ever since did not support the space research and the area seldom saw growth except in the military realm with missile defense programs only. During Musharraf's rule, Institute of Space Technology was inaugurated after realization of the clear need for space research and satellite development in the country became a need with the development of PakSat 1R.

RaheQamar or R-E-Q is Pakistan's first privately funded space education and research project. Mohammad Iftekhar Yezdani, Hassan Qazi and Rohail Zaheer teamed up on January 14, 2013 and began planning. Now, with many students across Pakistan and several outside Pakistan, RaheQamar is moving forward with several space education activities and preparing a resource base purely in Urdu for Pakistani students. One recent event is the Photobooth for young school kids at the World Space Week 2014 held at the Institute of Space Technology.

The team has started Pakistan's first Radio Talk show called 'RaheQamar' on FM 102.2 in Islamabad/Rawalpindi region. They are preparing a webtv series to be put online soon as well.

Mohammad Iftekhar Yezdani, gave a talk about RaheQamar on TEDxYouth@ClubRd held in Islamabad Club on 2 November 2014.

Project Rah-e-Qamar In their endeavor to build a proper platform for Pakistan's space enthusiasts, they are pursuing tasks in:

1. Establishing a REQ Ombudsman’s media wing for Idea development for the proliferation of Space knowledge in Pakistan 2. Set a Minimum Weekly event allocated to Space Education 3. Career Guidance Workshops for Teens and Youth at different universities 4. Empowerment of Women to join this endeavor 5. REQ Ombudsman's social media wing 6. Explore further Benefits for Future of Pakistani Youth in Space 7. Establish an Exchange Platform for Young Professionals 8. Promotion of a Shared Space & Youth Identity 9. Promotion of Youth Participation in Space Exploration 10. Art as a Tool to spread REQ's mission and objectives