Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has inaugurated the United Nations Pakistan International Conference on Leveraging Space Technology for Early Warning for All (EW4All), Climate Action and Disaster Risk Assessment at Serena Hotel in Islamabad. The commission is organizing the event in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the Inter-Islamic Network on Space Sciences and Technology (ISNET) and the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO). The five day conference is being held from October 27 to 31, 2026, and it brings together 250 national and international participants to explore the role of space technology in improving early warning systems, climate resilience and disaster risk management. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal was the chief guest at the ceremony.
SUPARCO Chairman Muhammad Yousaf Khan welcomed the participants and highlighted the growing importance of space based applications in climate monitoring, disaster management and early warning systems. The participants include experts, policymakers, researchers and representatives of institutions, and the organizers have said that the gathering offers a platform to exchange knowledge, share experiences and build international cooperation on the use of space technology for early warning, climate action and disaster risk assessment. Around 60 to 70 of the participants are international delegates, while about 150 come from Pakistan, which gives the conference a broad mix of foreign and domestic expertise.
The conference is co-sponsored by UNOOSA through its UN-SPIDER programme, together with APSCO and ISNET. A central focus is the Early Warnings for All initiative of the United Nations, which seeks to protect communities and critical infrastructure from climate related disasters through effective early warning systems. Participants will examine how satellite observations, Earth observation data and geospatial technologies can improve preparedness for events such as floods, droughts and heatwaves. They will also look at practical approaches for shifting disaster management from reactive responses towards proactive risk assessment, preparedness and early action.
For Pakistan, the conference is expected to improve national capacity to use satellite based and geospatial information for early warning, climate resilience and disaster risk reduction. It is also expected to reinforce the role of the country in regional and international cooperation on space based solutions for disaster risk management and climate action, and to help it build partnerships for a safer, more climate resilient and disaster prepared future. The programme will conclude on October 31 with a closing ceremony and a technical visit to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which will give participants a view of how disaster information is used by the authority responsible for response in the country.
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