GILGIT:With rising temperatures accelerating glacier retreat and spawning thousands of glacial lakes in Pakistan’s northern mountain ranges, Gilgit-Baltistan is increasingly turning to satellite intelligence to avert catastrophic Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
The urgency of shifting from manual ground observations to advanced geospatial tracking took centre stage on Wednesday as policymakers, scientists and environmental experts gathered in Gilgit to address the region’s escalating climate vulnerabilities. The crisis formed the backdrop of the Second Regional Symposium on the “Space4Climate” initiative, hosted by the Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO).
With more than 3,000 glacial lakes formed across Pakistan’s north — dozens of which are deemed highly hazardous and prone to bursting — experts warn that the lives, properties and livelihoods of millions are at direct risk. “Addressing climate challenges requires practical action rather than dialogue alone,” said Raja Nasir Ali Khan, GB’s Minister for Forest, Wildlife, Parks and Environment, while speaking as the chief guest.
Acknowledging the severe existential threats facing the region’s fragile ecosystems, the minister said the GB government has recently established a Glacier Protection Authority. He further announced plans to establish a “Center of Excellence on Glaciers” to promote scientific research, capacity building and collaborative solutions for monitoring the rapidly changing cryosphere, inviting SUPARCO to collaborate on both fronts.
Dr Amjad Ali, Director General of SUPARCO’s Space Applications and Research Center, emphasised the need to institutionalise these space-based climate services across government departments. During the symposium, SUPARCO’s Space Applications Center for Climate Sciences (SACCS) provided a live demonstration of its newly developed Space4Climate Geospatial Portals. Harnessing data from Pakistan’s national satellite assets — including PRSS-1, SAR-1 and hyperspectral imaging — the portal delivers near-real-time intelligence on glacier dynamics, snow cover changes, shifting waterways and greenhouse gases.
