Int'l workshop on flood risk mapping starts

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) organized "International workshop on flood risk mapping using spatial technology" in collaboration with Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), UNESCO and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The inauguration ceremony took place on Thursday at COMSTECH Islamabad. Special Assistant to Primer Minister on Water Resources and Agriculture Kamal Mujidullah was chief guest on the occasion.

Member SUPARCO, Imran Iqbal said that " SUPARCO in the last few decades has made significant progress in harnessing satellite and space technologies for the socio-economic development process of Pakistan.

Some of these areas where work has been initiated are land cover classification, disaster relief, glacier studies, agriculture,geology, land management, hydrology, meteorology, ecology and environment."

Member SUPARCO further added, "Pakistan is a country susceptible to a number of hazards. SUPARCO, in the last decade has already carried out various projects to enhance the nation's preparedness for floods and its capability to mitigate its aftermath.

These projects are already at mature stages including flood inundation profiling, DNA reports for national and international agencies involved in the mitigation process, estimation of damage to crop by natural disasters development of irrigation water channel record under national program for improvement of water courses," he added.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Water Resources and Agriculture Kamal Mujidullah said that "space technology and its various applications are integral part of our lives.

From national development projects - with their trickle down benefits- to the ubiquitous internet- that allows us to connect directly with our
loved ones and business partners in distant lands. Satellite technology has changes the very nature of how we live and work today."

He appreciated the efforts of SUPARCO to develop space technology applications for national development and said that "remote sensing technologies have proven to be valuable tools to support effective early warning for disasters like floods and earth quakes. They enable the collection and monitoring of data about atmospheric conditions and characteristics of the earth;s surface leading to processes,which may bring about national disasters."

He pledged all necessary support by the government to the achievement of Pakistan Space vision 2040 and said that "SUPARCO is playing its part diligently in the progress of Pakistan".

UNESCO initiated a major project for the up gradation of flood forecasting, flood early warning system and the risk mapping of flood plains along the Indus river in Pakistan in year 2011.

Implementation of this project is undertaken in collaboration with the government- including the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere research commission (SUPARCO), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Federal Flood Commission (FFC), Office Of the Indus Water Commissioner and local academic partners.