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KARACHI, September 8, 2026: The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) held its fourth regional symposium under the Space4Climate Initiative in Karachi on September 8.
SUPARCO organised the event through its Space Applications Center for Climate Sciences (SACCS). The symposium took place at PC Hotel, Karachi.
The event brought together government officials, policymakers, scientists, researchers, development partners, academics and environmental experts.
Participants explored ways to use space technology for climate resilience and sustainable development. They also discussed major environmental challenges facing Sindh and Pakistan.
These challenges include floods, droughts, heatwaves, air pollution and changing water resources.
The Karachi symposium is the fourth event in SUPARCO’s seven-city national and provincial series.
The series will cover Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Gilgit and Muzaffarabad.
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The first symposium took place in Peshawar on July 23. The second followed in Gilgit on August 5. Lahore hosted the third symposium on August 27.
The Karachi event focused on coastal dynamics, mangroves, seawater intrusion, drought, heatwave risks, waterways, land cover and crop monitoring.
The sessions also highlighted Pakistan’s space-based capabilities for environmental monitoring.
Faisal Ahmed Uqaili, Secretary of the Sindh Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Department, delivered the keynote address.
He stressed the need to integrate advanced geospatial technology into climate governance and disaster risk reduction.
Uqaili also called for stronger institutional cooperation. He highlighted the role of scientific data in climate adaptation and environmental protection.
He also discussed Sindh government initiatives related to carbon monitoring, carbon financing and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The government has also launched 13 projects to address climate change, according to the information shared at the event.
Zafar Iqbal, Member Space Application and Research Wing at SUPARCO, attended the event as chief guest.
He highlighted the growing impact of climate change across Pakistan. These impacts include glacier melt, floods, droughts, heatwaves and air pollution.
Agriculture and water resources also face increasing pressure.
Iqbal said Earth observation satellites, remote sensing and geospatial analytics can help monitor environmental changes.
He also highlighted Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as an important tool for climate planning.
According to him, SUPARCO aims to turn satellite data into useful climate intelligence. Such information can support national priorities and improve climate-related decision-making.
A major feature of the symposium was a presentation on SUPARCO’s Space4Climate initiative.
Officials also demonstrated the Space4Climate Geospatial Portals.
The portals use data from Pakistan’s satellite assets. These include PRSS-1, SAR-1, the EO series and hyperspectral capabilities.
The system provides near real-time information on several environmental indicators.
These include greenhouse gases, air quality, glaciers, snow cover, waterways, land cover and coastal ecosystems.
The technology can help institutions monitor environmental changes. It can also support disaster preparedness, agriculture, water management and environmental planning.
Technical sessions covered waterways and land-cover dynamics. Experts also discussed crop monitoring, air quality and environmental assessment.
Heatwave hazard assessment was another major topic.
Participants examined the role of satellite information in climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
They also explored applications in agriculture, water management, urban planning and environmental protection.
An interactive panel focused on “Mainstreaming Space-Based Information in Provincial Planning and Development for Climate Resilient Societies and Infrastructure.”
Panelists stressed the need for stronger coordination between government agencies.
They also called for wider access to geospatial information. Integrating satellite-based climate services into government planning was another key recommendation.
The symposium ended with several recommendations.
Participants called for government departments to adopt Space4Climate services. They also urged stronger cooperation between scientific institutions and government organisations.
Capacity building in geospatial technologies emerged as another priority.
The participants further supported the continued development of operational climate information services.
Raheem Sanaullah Chaudhry, Member Space Electronics Wing at SUPARCO, delivered the closing remarks.
The symposium reflects SUPARCO’s continued focus on peaceful applications of space science and technology.
The initiative also supports Pakistan’s goals for national development, climate resilience and environmental sustainability.
It aligns with Pakistan’s commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
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