RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that there is a need for enhanced public private partnership to make Pakistan defence industry into vibrant, self-reliant and self-sustained entity.
In his address at the two-day National Seminar on “Defence Production – Security through Self Reliance” held at Army Auditorium in Rawalpindi, the COAS said that apart from public sector and defence production organizations, a fully integrated private sector in our defence industry is much wanting.
The Army Chief said that there is a need to amplify indigenization through fully integrated Public and Private Organizations in Defence production for meaningful progression in defence of the Country.
Furthermore, the COAS thanked participants for giving time to an important issue concerning national security.
The Seminar was aimed at paving way for self-reliance by exploring indigenous defence production potential, identifying organizational and institutional challenges of defence industry, pragmatic solutions to optimize defence production and recommending policy level measures to have fully immersed private sector in defence production.
The Members from different Ministries, Public and Private Organizations, Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Defence Production Establishments and members from Academia participated/attended the seminar.
The representatives from public sector discussed and suggested way forward for public private partnership in defence production.
Speaking on the occasions, the Minister for Defence ProductionZobaida Jalal, and the Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhary Fawad Hussain shared their views and suggestions for development of Pakistan Defence Industry into a prolific entity.
The representatives from private sectors shared roadmap for enhancing public- private partnership in defence production.
The Prime Minister’s Advisor on Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production and Investment of Pakistan Abdul Razak Dawood enlightened the participants on importance of independent Defence Industry for National Security.
Based on discussion and suggestions discussed during the two days long sessions, seminar concluded with policy level recommendations for the government.
Major recommendations included establishment of task force under the prime minister for roadmap to facilitating indigenous defence production, establishing raw material industry, incorporating private sector for raw material base so as to optimally utilize public sector capacity for indigenous defence production, surplus defence potential for export, establishing “Digital Parks “to tap software industry potential and promoting R&D in universities.
