PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: Current and former officials associated with defence industries while speaking at a seminar underscored the potential of the local industry to meet the defence needs in the country and called for greater collaboration between the public and private sector for the growth and further development of the sector.
The seminar “Prospects of Co-operation between Civil and Military Industries for Indigenous and National Manufacturing” had been jointly hosted by Strategic Vision Institute (SVI) and Pakistan Business Council (PBC) to promote interaction between the states owned defence industries and the private sector.
Former Secretary Defence Production Lt Gen (retd) Syed Muhammad Owais said the local industry had immense potential. He recounted how Pakistan Aeronautical Complex repaired a damaged SAAB 2000 surveillance aircraft locally at a cost of $26 million although the manufacturer had demanded $300 million for the task.
Former Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi said Fauji Foundation was being run on corporate lines.
Syed Nasim Raza, advisor to chairman of Pakistan Ordnance Factories Wah’s Board blamed the current neglect of private sector in defence industries to absence of a policy defining its (private sector’s) role.
Air Commodore (Dr) Muiz Shami, an official of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra (PAC), said “public-private partnership was evolving” as PAC moved towards supporting creation of industries around itself. Pakistan Business Council CEO Ehsan Malik spoke about the challenges facing the economy and the issues confronted in doing business here.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2018.
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