Natural disasters do not respect borders. Rivers, glaciers, mountains and weather systems connect countries across the region. Regional cooperation and timely sharing of reliable information can therefore strengthen early warnings and improve emergency response.
Pakistan should now move from reacting to disasters to anticipating them. Space technology offers an important opportunity to make that transition. What is needed is sustained investment, institutional coordination, and international climate justice and, above all, the political will to turn scientific capability into public protection.
Pakistan’s growing vulnerability to climate change has made one fact increasingly clear: the country can no longer afford to treat climate preparedness as a secondary priority. From catastrophic floods to glacial melting and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, natural disasters are posing a direct threat to lives, livelihoods and national development. In this situation, the effective use of space technology is no longer a matter of scientific ambition alone; it is becoming an essential tool for survival. Planning Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal’s call for the timely use of satellite technology and early warning systems therefore deserves serious attention. Satellite-based information can help authorities monitor weather patterns, identify vulnerable areas and respond before a disaster turns into a catastrophe. The value of such technology is particularly significant for a country like Pakistan, where millions of people remain exposed to floods, landslides, droughts and other climate-related risks.
Pakistan’s climate dilemma is also a matter of global justice. The country contributes less than one per cent to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it continues to face disproportionately severe consequences. The floods of 2022 and 2025, with reported economic losses exceeding $30 billion, demonstrate the enormous cost of a crisis Pakistan did little to create. For a developing country already struggling with economic pressures, repeated climate disasters can wipe out years of development in a matter of days.
The international response, unfortunately, remains inadequate. Asking climate-vulnerable countries to rely primarily on additional loans for reconstruction risks deepening the very debt pressures that limit their ability to invest in development. Climate finance must therefore be based on fairness and responsibility. Grants and accessible financing should be prioritised for countries suffering the consequences of a global problem they contributed relatively little to creating.
At the same time, Pakistan must strengthen its own capacity. The reported launch of five satellites in the past 18 months is an encouraging sign of progress. The country’s plans to send its first astronaut into space also reflect growing ambition in the field. But space technology should not remain confined to scientific institutions or symbolic achievements. Its real value will be measured by how effectively it improves the lives and safety of ordinary citizens.
Satellite data should become an integral part of development planning. Roads, bridges, hospitals, dams and other critical infrastructure must be designed with accurate assessments of climate and disaster risks. Better mapping, forecasting and risk analysis can help prevent poor planning and reduce future losses.
Equally important is investment in people. Pakistan needs more scientists, engineers, geospatial experts and young professionals capable of turning satellite data into practical solutions. Greater opportunities for women and young people in space science can help build a new generation of expertise.