NUZHAT NAZAR

ISLAMABAD: The Military Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (MVRDE) has achieved a milestone in self-reliance as it saved about Rs 10 billion through indigenous production of military vehicles, mobility, bridging, aircraft support equipments – an initiative which can go a long way in boosting the defence production sector.

Talking to Business Recorder exclusively after a meeting of National Assembly standing committee on Defence Production, Director General MVRDE Major General Muhammad Moazzam Ali said that MVRDE declared the move a step forward towards complete self-reliance of the defence production sector.

He said that MVRDE has played an important role to make Pakistan fully capable through indigenous production which not only helped in saving billions of rupees but boosted the confidence that we can rely on our own industry instead of going for import to fulfill the needs.

However, he said that if the same products and equipments would have been purchased from abroad, MVRDE could have hardly met its budget rather it would have been insufficient, as the equipment which it produced itself cost billions of rupees.

The budget approved for MVRDE is a small fraction of total defence budget ie Rs 50-Rs70 million, which he described is based on the requirement, making it impossible to import all the equipments if there had not been any indigenous production.

As far as the name MVRDE is concerned, it portrays a very limited scope due to its name, while recommending, he said: “In Pakistan all research and development efforts should be centralized and a new organization – Defence Research and Development should be made”.

“At present, SPD (Strategic Plans Division) is conducting its own research and development while defence production has its own research wing, which should be merged in order to make joint efforts so that we can compete with countries which are technologically advanced,” he added.

Earlier, the meeting presided over by MNA Khawaja Sohail Mansoor was briefed about the creation of MVRDE and its role pertaining to the defence sector.

He said that MVRDE was created in 1972, when the foreign aid was withdrawn and the sanction was imposed on the import of products and equipments in 1971 after the war. MVRDE was formed to mobilize, orientate and facilitate efforts for technology diffusion to meet the general and specialist equipment needs of defence forces.

Moreover, it was briefed that MVRDE is capable of conducting applied research and development pertaining to defence related equipment systems. The infrastructure encompasses essential facilities duly augmented by resources available in the public and private domain.

The committee appreciated the working/functioning of MVRDE and recommended that MVRDE officers and officials should be given opportunity for visiting aboard in connection with the international defence exhibition/seminars.

The committee recommended that salaries for engineering degrees holder in Pakistan Army, Navy and Air force should be enhanced according to their qualification.

During visit to the working and display center of MVRDE, the chairman suggested DG MVRDE to write letter to the Ministry of Interior to make the G3 weapon compulsory for all security companies so that its production can be enhanced and a viable profit can be generated through its sale, adding that the Ministry Of Defence Production (MoDP) will endorse the same stance.

Meeting was attended by Mr. Muhammad Khan Daha, Chaudhary Hamid Hameed, Muhammad Moeen Wattoo, Ms. Amra Khan, Iffat Liaqat, Asyia nasir, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, MNAs and besides the senior officers of MoDP and MVRDE.