EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO MAKE COUNTRY SELF-SUFFICIENT IN DEFENCE PRODUCTION: NA TOLD
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain on Thursday informed the National Assembly that defence production industry was fulfilling 80 percent demand of the armed forces and efforts were being made to make the country self-sufficient in defence production.
Replying to a question during Question Hour,the minister said that the ministry is promoting indigenous production/development of local defence industry through its Defence Production Establishments (DPEs), and are engaged in various development projects.
The main steps / achievements included Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POFs), Heavy Industry Taxila, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), National Radio Telecommunication Company (NRTC),Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW), self-reliance and indigenization and Installation of Ship Lift and Transfer System (SL&TS).
Giving details, he said that Pakistan Ordnance Factories launched a comprehensive programme in year 2011 with estimated cost $ 213.300 million for replacing the old vintage plants/machinery with state-of-the-art modern ones, to improve the quality of products.
Regarding, PAC he said, PAC is the leading aviation industry of Pakistan. Its products are qualified as per modern Aerospace and Avionics International Standards and displayed in almost every major international Air Show and exhibitions.
PAC aviation products have attracted due appreciation form the aviation experts, the world over. Leading aviation industries and Defence Production Organizations of the world are in the business terms with PAC.
He said KS & EW was placed under Ministry of Defence Production in 2006. Since then, PN orders are being regularly awarded to KS & EW. Construction of F 22P Frigate (PNS ASLAT), Fast Attack Craft (Missile) No. 2, 32 Tons and 12 Tons Bollard Pull Tugs are the recent examples. Presently, a mega project of construction of 17000 Tons Fleet Tanker is in progress, he said.
Other PN projects currently being undertaken, he said incudes Fast Attack 14 Craft (Missile) No. 3 and 02 x Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM). Moreover, 22 x Bridge Erection Boats for Pakistan Army are also under construction and 1st batch of 7 boats have been delivered in October 2015, he said.
He said other defence projects including Fast Attack Craft (Missile) No. 4, 2 x 32 Tons BP Tugs for PN and 1 x 600 Tons and 1 x 1500 Tons QPVs for Pakistan Maritime Security Agency are planned to start in 2016.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2015
