Pak–UN Int’l Conference on Leveraging Space Technology held

Islamabad witnessed the continuation of the Pak-UN International Conference on "Leveraging Space Technology for Early Warning, Climate Action and Disaster Risk Assessment" on its second day, focusing on "From Risk to Warning: Space-Based Disaster Intelligence." The event, spanning five days, brought together national and international experts to discuss the utilization of space-based technologies for enhancing disaster preparedness and early warning systems.

Ambassador Khalil Hashmi addressed the conference, emphasizing Pakistan's approach to disaster risk assessment. Mubashar Hussain of the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) Pakistan presented the country's National Catastrophe Risk Modelling (NatCat), highlighting the significance of risk-informed planning and decision-making based on empirical evidence.

International organizations and space agencies delivered keynote presentations, sharing global insights, innovative strategies, and the increasing role of space technologies in disaster risk assessment, climate action, and early warning systems. Discussion centered around the application of space-based technologies in various domains, including flood risk reduction, glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) early warning, reservoir monitoring, and multi-hazard assessment.

A notable highlight was the panel discussion on "Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction – Pakistan Progress," which evaluated the nation's advancements in disaster risk governance through scientific evidence, institutional coordination, and geospatial intelligence. The conference aims to foster international collaboration and practical implementation of space-based technologies for early warning, climate action, and disaster risk reduction.

The five-day event is set to conclude on October 31, 2026, with a summary of proceedings, presentations on SUPARCO's Space4Climate initiative, and addresses by participating organizations.