The PakSat-1R satellite is designed and manufactured by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science & Technology Corporation (CASC). It is a communications satellite based on Dong Fang Hong 4 (DFH-4) satellite platform, with 30 transponders onboard, including 12 C-band and 18 Ku-band transponders and output power of 7.75KW.

To meet the complicated coverage requirements, PakSat-1R has three shaped antennas, covering South Asian Sub-continent, the Middle-East, East Africa and a part of Western European area and cities. The satellite lift-off mass was 5,120 kgs with a service lifetime of 15 years, providing mainly telecommunications and broadcast services to Pakistan.

PakSat-1R was launched on a Long March 3B/E rocket operated by Chinese CGWIC launch operator. The satellite was successfully orbited on August 11th, 2011.