Pakistan’s progress in indigenous autonomous capabilities an ‘integral

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Pakistan’s progress in developing indigenous autonomous capabilities is an essential component of national defence, as he addressed the opening of the two-day Indus Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Expo 2026 in Islamabad.

Speaking at the event at the Pak-China Friendship Centre, the prime minister said Pakistan had made notable advances in building homegrown defence and security systems under the leadership of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. He pointed to the May 2025 conflict with India, saying Pakistan’s armed forces protected the country’s physical and cyber frontiers through the use of advanced autonomous systems with support from the air and naval chiefs.

“These remarkable military advancements are an integral part of our national defence,” he said, adding that they would help strengthen Pakistan’s security structure, deepen its defence capabilities and improve resilience against present and future threats.

PM Shehbaz also praised the armed forces for adopting advanced technologies and said he had seen several such systems on display at the expo. He noted that some simulators were “100 per cent manufactured and assembled in Pakistan” and said drones had reached 60pc indigenisation, alongside other machines developed domestically.

Calling the expo a sign of Pakistan’s technological direction, he said the event showed a future “designed, built and powered by great Pakistanis.” He urged universities, research centres, startups, industries and farmers to work together in a single national innovation ecosystem so that the knowledge behind these technologies could keep advancing.

The prime minister said the robotics and autonomous systems revolution should not be limited to wealthy countries, large firms or major cities. He said it should support inclusive growth by improving the lives of farmers, small businesses, women entrepreneurs, young innovators and underserved communities across Pakistan and the Global South.

He also stressed the need for clear regulatory and ethical frameworks so that autonomous systems remain safe, secure, transparent and beneficial to humanity.

During his speech, PM Shehbaz announced two initiatives he described as landmark steps for the sector. The first, the Spark and Elevate Programme, is intended to turn research into globally competitive technologies, stronger enterprises and jobs. The second is the Pakistan Venture Fund, launched with an initial commitment of $20 million to support investment in the technology ecosystem.

He said Pakistan wanted a future in which robots and autonomous machines help reimagine development and build a better tomorrow. “Pakistan will not be a nation that merely inherits the choices made by others. We will shape our own destiny,” he said.

The prime minister also referred to Indus AI Week held in February, saying the new expo gave that earlier vision practical form by showing how innovation can be converted into solutions for the economy and public welfare. He said modern technology could help farmers, especially in areas hit by water scarcity and climate stress, by detecting crop problems early and identifying where water, fertiliser and pesticides are needed. He added that the same technology could aid relief efforts in flood-affected areas where roads and bridges have been washed away.

Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja also spoke at the expo, highlighting government efforts to promote digitalisation and grow the tech sector. According to Pakistan TV, she said the government was building an environment that allows startups to scale, and called for a more structured approach and stronger financing to support deep technologies.

The report is based on a monitored public feed and attributed to Dawn Home.

Source: Dawn Home - https://www.d