Public private partnership inevitable to improve defence industry: COAS

COAS thanked participants for giving time to an important issue concerning national security.

RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday said that there is a need for enhanced public private partnership to make Pakistan defence industry into vibrant, self reliant and self-sustained entity. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, a two-day National Seminar on “Defence Production - Security through Self Reliance” was held at Army Auditorium Rawalpindi. Addressing the ceremony, army chief thanked participants for giving time to an important issue concerning national security and said that apart from public sector and defence production organizations, a fully integrated private sector in our defence industry is much wanting. 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, he added. The seminar 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. Members from different Ministries, Public and Private Organizations, Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Defence Production Establishments and members from Academia participated / attended the seminar. Representatives from public sector discussed and suggested way forward for public private partnership in defence production. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Zobaida Jalal, Minister for Defence Production and Mr. Chaudary Fawad Hussain, Minister for Science and Technology shared their views and suggestions for development of Pakistan Defence Industry into a prolific entity. Representatives from private sectors shared roadmap for enhancing public- private partnership in defence production. Mr Abdul Razak Dawood Advisor to PM on Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production and Investment of Pakistan 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 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.