Increased capacities: DEPO inaugurates display centre

The country fulfils half of all defence needs domestically

ISLAMABAD: The government fulfils 50 per cent of its domestic defence needs through local manufacturers.

These views were expressed by Rana Tanveer Hussain, federal minister for defence production, while inaugurating a display centre established by the Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO) at Defence Complex Islamabad on Tuesday.

Defence products made by local manufacturers, both public and private, are being showcased under one roof.  He also said local companies had developed tremendous capacities in manufacturing both small and heavy weaponry.

Last year’s IDEAS defence exhibition attracted participation from 50 countries.

Awaz Khan, the head of a private arms manufacturer, told The Express Tribune that he had been displaying his products since IDEAS 2000, and had been receiving orders from the US, the UK, Germany, Turkey and Malta.

Prominent at the display were the Super Mushshaq trainer, JF-17 Thunder, Al-Zarrar tank, the Mahafiz light armoured vehicle, the Shah Par tactical UAV system, anti-tank guided missile systems, surface-to-air guided missile systems, surveillance systems, and unmanned ground vehicles, among others.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2015.