tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278279504304651957.post3020649082515910041..comments2024-03-26T19:25:43.970-07:00Comments on South Asia Investor Review: Media Drones Over IslamabadRiaz Haqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278279504304651957.post-33029982454710316562021-11-28T10:33:29.159-08:002021-11-28T10:33:29.159-08:00PAKISTAN’S SILENT DRONE REVOLUTION
A generation of...PAKISTAN’S SILENT DRONE REVOLUTION<br />A generation of #engineers and students are engaged in efforts to develop & build civil #drones for #Pakistan. Civilian drone apps include #infrastructure inspection, #delivery business, #mapping, #agriculture & #mining. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2331335/pakistans-silent-drone-revolution<br /><br />https://twitter.com/haqsmusings/status/1465025303584010241?s=20<br /><br /><br />The last two decades have reshaped the technological landscape of the world perhaps more drastically than any other time in history. The digital revolution, which perhaps began not that remarkably in the second half of the previous century, has evolved and expanded exponentially. Once seen as novelties for the well off, electronic items like smart devices and digital cameras have now become integral to daily life.<br /><br />But while new generation of upgrades in these gadgets, smartphones and laptops hog most public attention, the civilian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone has gone through a silent but drastic evolution of its own. The world over, these miniature flying machines are now an essential tool in the kit of various industries. Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, their immense utility is now clearer than ever before.<br /><br />-------<br />In July 2020, the government of Pakistan shared plans to formulate a National Drone Policy and in March 2021, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced creation of Civil Drone Authority to regulate unmanned aircraft in Pakistan.<br /><br />Ikram highlighted that the National Drone Policy needed a three pronged approach.<br /><br />“Firstly, it should enable the growth of UAV industry in the country by turning it economical to design and manufacture UAVs in Pakistan as opposed to importing them,” he said. “Secondly, it should provide a practical framework for authorisation of UAV flying in coordination with CAA and other stakeholders.”<br /><br />Finally, he added that it should enable the formation of UAV ports and training centers so that our next generation is in step with rest of the world.<br /><br />Many stakeholders term absence of approval of drone policy a major hurdle in growth of the drone industry in Pakistan.<br /><br />Giving details of the National Drone Policy, Siddiqui said that it would demand licensing of drone because the government needed to know who is flying them and for what purpose.<br /><br />“This will curb smuggling and increase legitimate businesses which is a good thing for the industry,” he said. “Following implementation of the policy, local and international drone dealers in Pakistan would be encouraged with the passage of time.”<br /><br />---------------<br />Raza Sabri, who is involved in production of customised drones for defence forces and the government, agreed that the market of non-combat drones in Pakistan was quite visible and it was growing day after day. According to him, the most prominent civilian applications of drone included land survey, mapping, agriculture use and mining.<br /><br />He appreciated that the revenue earned by his company from non-combat drones was rising as well given the rapid adoption of service drones in Pakistan. Sabri added that his enterprise was exploring this segment and at this point, the potential of such machines in Pakistan was extremely strong.<br /><br />-------------<br />According to Sabri, the biggest hurdle to the drone ecosystem was the absence of a dedicated policy to regulate drones. “Massive amount of work was done in this area and the government took a huge amount of stakeholders, including us, on board however the federal cabinet has not ratified it yet,” Sabri elaborated. “Until the policy takes effect, the arrangement of drone components and usage of drones will remain a huge challenge in Pakistan.”Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.com