Islamabad: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has organized the second Pak-China Symposium on Early Warning for Hydrological and Geological Disasters at its headquarters in Islamabad. The two-day event, taking place from May 18-19, 2026, aims to foster regional collaboration on climate resilience and early warning systems, bringing together policymakers, scientists, and disaster management experts from Pakistan and China. The symposium also saw the launch of the “Global Best Practices for Disaster Mitigation and Management,” a guide to enhancing Pakistan’s disaster management framework.
According to Press Information Department, the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, attended the inaugural session as the Chief Guest. He emphasized the growing threat of climate change and the need for integrated preparedness and scientific innovation to shield vulnerable populations and infrastructure from hydrological and geological hazards. Prof. Iqbal underscored the importance of strengthening provincial capacities and coordination with NDMA for effective disaster response and recovery.
Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik highlighted the strategic necessity for Pakistan and China to cooperate in disaster management due to shared geographical and geological features. He stressed the importance of transitioning from reactive to proactive disaster management, with a focus on improving early warning systems and community preparedness. Representatives from the Chinese Embassy and leading academics from both countries shared insights on various topics, including glacier dynamics, flood forecasting, and digital disaster resilience.
The symposium included technical sessions on early warning systems, glacier lake outburst floods, climate adaptation, and AI applications. The event was well-attended by diplomats, academics, researchers, and representatives from UN organizations, demonstrating a strong commitment to collaborative efforts in climate resilience and disaster risk reduction.