ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved the establishment of a Civil Drone Authority for the country to regulate the industry.
In a meeting with relevant officials in Islamabad on Saturday, the Prime Minister said employing drone technology for commercial, research and development, agricultural and other peaceful purposes was the need of the hour.
The establishment of drone authority will not only fill the existing vacuum due to the non-availability of law to regulate this important sector but will also be instrumental in the promotion and domestic production of this critical technology, PM Imran said.
The Premier further said effective use of drone technology in various sectors will help in resource optimization and better service delivery. He said the process of legislation for the establishment of the authority should be completed on a priority basis, adding that it should be introduced in Parliament after approval by the cabinet.
The authority will be headed by the secretary aviation division, while, it will also include senior-level representation from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Ministry of Defence Production, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Science and Technology.
It will also include a representative from each of the federating units including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Three eminent experts of the field will also be members of the authority.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry also took to Twitter to provide further details about the tasks of the authority. He said it would regulate the use of all non-military drones such as those used for hobby or leisure pursuits.
“Establishment of drone authority is another milestone achieved,” he said, adding that currently, the focus was on drones for agricultural and police use.
“Another initiative to establish Disruptive Technologies Authority is also underway that’ll pave the way for 3D printers and robotics industry in Pakistan,” he added.
Establishment of Drone Authority is another milestone achieved, we are focusing on Agriculture Drones and Police Drones another initiative to establish Disruptive technologies authority is underway that ll pave the way for 3D Printers and robotics industry in Pakistan
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 13, 2021
