Private defence firms seek govt support to grow

KARACHI: Pakistan’s private defence and security manufacturers, whose quality products are making quite a buzz at the heavily guarded IDEAS-2016, country’s premier military hardware exhibition, urged the government to become the wind beneath their wings so that they could touch new skies of success.

Hundreds of exhibitors are demoing their fancy solutions at the expo to attract contracts from local and international buyers; however, there’s a cutthroat competition between the private, non-private, international defence machines’ makers. The ambitious indigenous manufacturers/exporters are striving to add more and more countries to their trade maps and rub shoulders with the elite international suppliers, which is not an easy feat to pull off without government patronage and institutional underpinning.

Integrated Dynamics (ID), a privately owned Pakistani company, is showcasing the prototype of an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV) titled “Arrow” along with several other drone aircraft. “We are manufacturing drones since 2002 and have been exporting our products to Australia, Europe and USA,” Raja Sabri Khan of Integrated Dynamics said.

Giving the details on their star product, Khan said, “Arrow is a multipurpose OPV. It is a very suitable option for aerial surveillance over a wide area as it can continuously fly for 15 long hours long without landing.”

“We have developed this prototype in just $30,000 and we are seeking patronage from the government or collaboration from an institution like Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC),” said Khan, who is an MIT graduate.

By the interest evinced by local as well as foreign visitors, Raja believes commercial production of “Arrow” could fetch valuable foreign exchange as well as help country’s security agencies.

Daudsons Armoury (Pvt) Ltd, the only ISO certified armory in Pakistan, is showcasing a range of its nitro-proofed weapons including pistols, rifles, shotguns, and fully automated heavy machine guns.

“We are producing best quality products and have a market in Europe,” Mustansir Daud at Daudsons Armoury said while lamenting the long list of regulatory formalities, which not only slow down the export but also add to the cost.

“Before 2008, arms exporters only needed NOC from Defense Export Promotion Organization (DEPO), but now NOCs are required from at least six ministries,” Daud said adding the government should setup a one-window operation for exporters for it would improve exports and goodwill of Made-in-Pakistan arms and sporting weapons.

Alsons Industries is also there with a range of defense related precision products and is already exporting to Germany, Belgium, and other countries. “We are producing artillery fuses and water fuses etc., of varied sizes. Our export proceeds are substantial,” Anwar Allana from Alsons Industries said.

Armed forces and government of Pakistan are committed to promote local defense industry and institutions such as Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) and Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC) can play a phenomenal role in promoting the local players, which could reduce dependency on defense imports as well as take Pakistan in the line of major defense producers.