The Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), through its Space Applications Centre for Climate Sciences (SACCS), successfully conducted the Third Regional Symposium on the theme “Space4Climate – Waterways & Land Cover Dynamics, Crop Monitoring, Air Quality/Smog and Heatwave Hazard Assessment” at PC Hotel, Lahore.
The symposium marked the third successful event in SUPARCO’s seven-city National and Provincial Symposium Series under the Space4Climate Initiative and Awareness on Climate Change Impacts, which will be held in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Gilgit and Muzaffarabad.
The first symposium was kicked off in Peshawar on 23 July 2026, and the second was held in Gilgit on 5 August 2026.
The symposium brought together senior government officials, policymakers, scientists, researchers, development partners, academia, and environmental experts to strengthen collaboration on the application of space technologies for climate resilience and sustainable development.
The symposium served as a strategic platform to showcase Pakistan’s indigenous space-based capabilities for climate monitoring and to promote evidence-based policymaking through satellite-derived climate intelligence.
Participants discussed emerging climate risks facing Punjab and the country, including floods, disasters, deteriorating air quality, heatwaves and changing water resources, while highlighting the critical role of Earth observation technologies in addressing these challenges.
The inaugural session featured an introduction to the Space4Climate Initiative by Dr Mohammad Farooq, Deputy Director General, Space Applications Centre for Climate Sciences (SACCS), SUPARCO and welcome Remarks by Mr Zafar Iqbal, Member, Space Application & Research Wing, SUPARCO
Mr Muhammad Yousaf Khan, HI, PoP, Chairman SUPARCO, graced the event as the Chief Guest.
In his speech, Chairman SUPARCO highlighted the growing impacts of climate change across Pakistan, including glacier melt, floods, droughts, heatwaves, air pollution and pressures on agriculture and water resources.
He emphasised that Earth observation satellites, remote sensing, geospatial analytics and Geographic Information Systems have become indispensable for continuous and objective monitoring of environmental change.
He further underscored SUPARCO’s role in transforming satellite data into actionable climate intelligence in support of national priorities.
The Chairman also highlighted that space technology is an essential instrument for sustainable development and climate resilience, and SUPARCO plays a key role in harnessing space-based technologies and Earth observation capabilities for climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, water resource management, food security and environmental monitoring, with its series of satellites.
He also emphasised the importance of science-based climate action and highlighted the relevance of space technology to Punjab’s growing climate challenges.
A major highlight of the symposium was the presentation of SUPARCO’s Space4Climate initiative and a live demonstration of the Space4Climate Geospatial Portals, showcasing how satellite-based climate intelligence can support informed decision-making across national and provincial institutions.
The portal integrates data from Pakistan’s satellite assets, including PRSS-1, SAR-1, EO series and hyperspectral capabilities, to provide near real-time information on greenhouse gases, air quality, glaciers, snow cover, waterways, land cover, coastal ecosystems, and other critical environmental indicators.
The technical sessions featured expert presentations and discussions around the symposium’s core thematic areas, including waterways and land-cover dynamics, crop monitoring, air quality and environmental assessment, and heatwave hazard assessment.
The discussions highlighted the growing role of satellite-derived information and geospatial analytics in supporting climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, agriculture, water management, urban planning and environmental protection in the province of Punjab.
An interactive panel discussion on ” Mainstreaming Space-Based Information in Provincial Planning and Development for Climate Resilient Societies and Infrastructure” highlighted the importance of strengthening inter-agency coordination, expanding access to geospatial information, and mainstreaming satellite-derived climate services into planning, disaster preparedness, natural resource management, and environmental governance.
The symposium concluded with recommendations emphasising the institutional adoption of Space4Climate services across government departments, strengthened collaboration among scientific and government organisations, enhanced capacity building in geospatial technologies, and continued development of operational climate information services to support evidence-based policymaking.
Closing remarks were made by Mr Raheem Sanaullah Chaudhry, Member, Space Electronics Wing, SUPARCO.
The Regional Symposium reflects SUPARCO’s continued commitment to harnessing space science and technology for peaceful applications that contribute to national development, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and Pakistan’s commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.