PRODUCTIVE ROLE FOR RETIRED PERSONNEL
Engineer Siddiq-ur-Rehman gives innovative suggestions for productive employment of retired defence personnel
INTRODUCTION
A proposal is worked out for utilizing the potential of retired defence personnel to meet the economic challenges faced by the nation and the Defence forces. The major part of defence budget goes for the procurement of equipment and maintenance spare parts so the areas of activities focused are:
- Indigenous production of defence equipment
- Efficient and Optimum utilization of the engineering potential available with Defence production and Services.
- Direct procurement of equipment from the manufacturers in the inter national market instead of going through few monopoly trade houses.
Methodology is outlined in the subsequent paragraphs. However detailed working is also available which is result of last two years discussions with the relevant decision-makers. The net result of the efforts will be:
- Saving foreign exchange.
- Promoting local engineering industry.
- Strengthening local technological base.
- Employment for thousands of retired personnel
Its strategically significant to promote the local engineering potential which is going to go down further in the coming years due to lesser protection.
Its strongly felt that there is an essential need to promote the pro-self reliance forces which are in scattered and weaker form at present. The deployment of pro and against self-reliance forces is mapped as:
A. Forces Against Self-Reliance:
Profiteering trade houses and commission mafia with million dollars business in hand.
They do command the financial and manipulation strength.
B. Pro Self-Reliance Forces:
Public/Private sector engineering industry with variety of problems and engineering professionals with lack of professionalism.
The great potential available with the retired personnel in the shape of understanding of the defence forces needs, technical experience and management experience can be deployed for strengthening the pro self-reliance forces on war footings.
OUTLINE OF THE LINE OF ACTION
A. What is required for effective Indigenous Production
Study of the last 50 years history of self-reliance reveals that the most effective indigenous production is achieved in case of T-59 Tank parts. The salient points of that exercise are:
a. Process sheets were available for the parts.
b. Heavy Rebuild Factory Taxila
simplified the procurement procedures.
The following home work is required at the organiser end to achieve the effective indigenous production:
I. Study of the economic and technical viability of local manufacturing of all the parts and components presently imported under annual and rate running etc contracts.
ii. Preparing the feasibility study report for the viable parts covering the manufacturing process flow charts etc.
iii. Defining the stage and final quality inspection requirements in detail.
iv. Facilitating the vendors in getting the know-how and specialized equipment.
v. Simplifying the procurement procedures.
B. How the optimum and economic utilization of Defence production and Services engineering potential can be achieved
The following areas required to be looked into:
i. Equipment:
The present status of the utilization of the equipment available and the possibilities of further utilization for civil and defence products.
ii. Material Utilization:
Study and the development of local material supply options.
iii. Input of know-how:
Arranging transfer of technology for the manufacturing of the new civil and defence products with the available potential.
iv. Manpower:
Developing local R&D human resource
C. Direct procurement of maintenance spare parts and equipment from the manufacturers
i. Presently some of the trade houses are monopolizing the supply of maintenance spare parts and making out of proportion profits.
ii. In line with the international trend taking shape with the development of information technology there is a need to launch a campaign in a big way to develop direct linkages with the actual manufacturers.
B. MODUS OPERANDI
It is suggested that task forces at the Ministry of Defence production and services headquarters level may be constituted for the above said assignments. In specific:
i. Task forces be consisting of the experienced and capable retired and serving personnel.
ii. Formulation of the strategy for achieving self-reliance and economy in defence procurements.
iii. Formulating long-term and short-term plans for achieving above said assignments.
iv. Devising ways and means for fully benefiting from the experience and the potential available with retired personnel for achieving greater self-reliance.
v. Formulating long-term and short- term plans for strengthening the pro self-reliance forces.
vi. Retired officers’ association be associated for dissemination of information regarding indigenous production and materialization of the local production.
CONCLUSION:
Optimum application of the experience and potential available with the retired personnel in economizing defence procurement expenses as proposed will result in:
i. Saving foreign exchange by import substitution
ii. Saving foreign exchange by fully utilizing the engineering potential available with Defence Forces of Pakistan.
iii. Saving foreign exchange by breaking the monopoly trading in spare parts supply
iv. Strengthening local engineering industry
v. Strengthening local technological base
vi. Strengthening pro self-reliance forces.
vii. Strengthening the supply line of engineering equipment
Siddiq-ur-Rehman Rana
(B.Sc. Eng. China)
Retired PAF Officer
