Musadik Malik questions failure to prevent disaster deaths despite early warnings, satellite data

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik has questioned why thousands of lives continue to be lost to natural disasters despite the availability of scientific data, advanced technology and early warning systems, saying the real challenge lies in ensuring that warnings reach the people exposed to danger and prompt timely action.

Addressing the concluding session of an international conference on the use of space technology for early warning, climate action and disaster risk assessment, the minister cited the deaths of 4,600 people during a single week of heatwave conditions in Karachi as an example of the gap between scientific knowledge and effective disaster response.

“We know where a heatwave is developing. Science has accurate information and early warning systems, yet why are so many people still dying?” he asked, questioning why the ability to identify hazards had not translated into the protection of human lives.

Malik said developing countries often failed to treat the problems faced by others as their own, weakening collective responses to crises. He questioned the purpose of scientific advances if governments and institutions could identify impending disasters but could not ensure that vulnerable communities were protected.

“Isn’t it a contradiction that we have the information and scientific capacity, but despite seeing the risks, we are unable to prevent them effectively?” he asked.

The minister said artificial intelligence had significantly expanded the ability to analyse complex information, performing tasks that previously took supercomputers several days or even weeks. He compared the precision of modern scientific tools to medical diagnosis, saying that just as a doctor could identify even a 10 per cent blockage in an artery, science could reveal hazards in their smallest details.

However, he stressed that issuing an alert alone was not enough. Authorities needed to ensure that warnings reached the specific individuals and communities at risk in time for them to take protective measures.

“A warning that has no connection to a particular person or area is, in fact, a warning for no one,” he said.

Referring to recent flood-related losses, Malik said advance warnings had been available but had failed to reach affected families. He described the continued loss of lives despite scientific information and early alerts as a matter of serious concern.

Drawing another comparison with healthcare, he said disaster preparedness required sustained monitoring and follow-up, just as doctors not only prescribe medication but also monitor patients’ treatment and lifestyle.

Malik also highlighted unsafe construction and poor urban planning as major contributors to deaths during natural disasters. He said collapsing roofs and walls accounted for a significant proportion of fatalities, arguing that such incidents should not be dismissed as unavoidable accidents.

“The collapse of roofs and walls is not merely an accident; it is the result of poor construction and improper zoning,” he said.

He identified substandard buildings, inadequate land-use planning and poor management of rainwater flows on roads as major factors that intensify the impact of disasters. He said digital modelling now made it possible to identify risks in advance that could not previously be detected with the same level of detail.

Pointing to efforts in Europe to develop a digital model of the entire planet, Malik asked why Pakistan could not create digital twins of flood-prone areas and river plains to improve disaster planning.

“What technology do we need to digitally map flood-prone areas that we do not already have?” he asked.

The minister also underscored the importance of satellite data in identifying risks and improving accountability, saying such information could not be manipulated through bribery.

“Satellite data cannot be bribed into changing. It identifies risks accurately,” he said, adding that evidence obtained from satellites presented facts rather than opinions.

Malik called for greater use of satellite-based information and digital mapping in disaster prevention, saying the challenge was no longer simply obtaining scientific data but translating it into targeted warnings, better planning and practical measures that could save lives.