ISLAMABAD: The Spa­ce and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) is integrating space-based applications into its disaster risk management framework, paving a path anchored in science and international collaboration to better prepare for natural calamities, a senior official said on Monday. The agency aims to change the country’s disaster response from reactive to proactive, said Sup­arco’s member for tech­no­logy Zafar Iqbal at the la­­unch of the ‘Space-based Disaster Manage­ment — Shifting Focus from Rea­c­tive to Proactive Approa­c­hes’ training in Islamabad. “These tools are used to enhance early warning sys­tems and support nati­onal policies and authorities on disaster preparedness as mitigation and ad­­aptation advance together as twin priorities,” Mr Iqbal said. He stressed the importance of readiness before a crisis occurs. “The challenge before us is not only to respond to disasters after they occur, but more importantly, to strengthen preparedness and resilience before they strike,” Mr Iqbal said.