Pakistan owes its space program to a Polish scientist - a refugee. Turowicz: The Polish-Pakistani went on to win the Sitara-e-Imtiaz and the Order of Merit of Poland.
He built Pakistan’s nascent airforce, leading the designing of short and medium-range ballistic missiles. He also became known as the Godfather of Pakistan’s Space Program.
Communist Poland became a hostile place to live for those who had fought with the Allies.
Turowicz, after the Polish Airforce, had been a reservist in the RAF in WWII. Along with 29 colleagues, he signed a three-year contract with Pakistan and moved here with his wife.
One of his most notable students was Abdul Majid, the mastermind behind two Low Earth Orbit Satellites. He also took part in developing Pakistan’s nuclear program.
The Polish Eagle who had once soared Pakistan’s skies decided to stay in Pakistan. He passed away at the ripe old age of 71 and was buried with full military honours, in Karachi.
A monument in Karachi stands in his name even today. The Turowicz Space Complex at SUPARCO Center in Lahore is also named after him.
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