For a country repeatedly battered by floods, droughts and heatwaves, data gathered from orbit is becoming a frontline tool. According to The Express Tribune, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) said on Thursday that Pakistan will host a five-day United Nations-Pakistan international conference at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad from October 27 to 31.
What the conference is about
Titled Leveraging Space Technology for Early Warning for All (EW4All), Climate Action and Disaster Risk Assessment, the event aims to use satellite observations and geospatial data to strengthen early warning systems and improve disaster risk assessment, an official release said.
Organisers expect 200 to 250 participants, including 60 to 70 international delegates and around 150 from Pakistan. It is co-sponsored by the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs through its UN-SPIDER programme, the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation and the Inter-Islamic Network on Space Sciences and Technology.
From reaction to preparation
Participants will look at ways to shift disaster management from reactive response towards proactive risk assessment, preparedness and early action, the statement said. Sessions will also cover space technology for monitoring water resources, agriculture, forests and environmental change, along with emerging tools such as GeoAI.
Discussions will be aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goal 13, and will highlight the work of young researchers and youth-led initiatives.
What Pakistan hopes to gain
SUPARCO says the conference should build national capacity to assess flood, drought and heatwave risks, supporting better decisions and protection for vulnerable communities. It closes on October 31 with a ceremony and a technical visit to the National Disaster Management Authority, where delegates will see Pakistan's satellite monitoring and early warning tools in use.