Islamabad, May 19, 2026: The 2^nd China–Pakistan Symposium on “Early Warning for Hydrological and Geological Disasters” was held on May 18–19, 2026 at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Islamabad bringing together researchers, policymakers, disaster management professionals, diplomats, and technical experts from Pakistan, China, and other countries.

The symposium was jointly organized by the China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences (CPJRC), ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), UNESCO Chair for Mountain Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment (IMHE), and Quaid-i-Azam University.

The event focused on strengthening regional cooperation in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate resilience, with particular attention to hydrological and geological hazard monitoring, early warning systems, data-sharing mechanisms, and institutional preparedness against climate-induced disasters, including floods, landslides, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), debris flows, and related mountain hazards.

During the inaugural session, a booklet based on globally adopted best practices and procedures for disaster management and risk reduction was launched. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, attended the session as the chief guest. In his address, he highlighted the increasing threats posed by climate change, particularly its growing impact on vulnerable communities, critical infrastructure, and national development priorities. He also appreciated the partnership with Chinese institutions for strengthening the capacity of Pakistani institutions in disaster preparedness and early warning.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman NDMA, Lt General Inam Haider Malik, emphasized that NDMA is shifting its focus from post-disaster response to proactive preparedness through modern early warning systems, risk-informed planning, and anticipatory action.

The symposium provided an important platform for technical dialogue on early warning technologies and integrated risk assessment on hydrological and geological hazards. On behalf of ECOSF, President ECOSF Prof. Seyed Komail Tayebi and Mr. Khalil Raza, Program Manager – Energy & Climate, participated in the inaugural session.