PM okays drone authority to boost agri, logistic sectors: Fawad

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said on Thursday that Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved the proposal of country’s first drone authority in an effort to boost local drones manufacturing industry and to modernise agriculture sector for the progress and prosperity of the country.Talking to a private news channel, he said PTI-led government had been introducing drone technology, which would be used for research in various sectors including logistics, agriculture and for other peaceful purposes in diverse areas in the country. Fawad said that in the beginning, the drones were used for defence purposes only but now they were a very important monitoring tool for police activities and agriculture sector. He said that two companies had already started preparing drones in the country, adding, drone technology was now being used in agriculture, where sowing of seeds and fertilizer were done by using drones. The minister further explained that in drones software technology country was self-sufficient but in hardware technology "we are little bit far from it where we need to focus more.” He also announced that government would soon come up with a policy aimed at promoting 3D printing on an industrial scale and helping domestic companies overcome technical and economic barriers so that they can build supportive and ancillary facilities for world leaders in the technology. The minister also said the government intended to turn the country into a ‘technological power’ and under the ‘Made in Pakistan’ vision local made ventilators and other medical equipment were manufacturing locally.