PAKISTAN NAVY LEADS THE SHOW

Columnist Muhammad Aslam Quadri visited the Pakistan Naval Defence Show 1999 and lauds the efforts of the Pakistan Navy for bringing under one umbrella local firms and foreign industrialists for possible collaboration in the manufacture of defence equipment.

February 1999 proved to be an extremely significant and momentous month as far as the Pakistan Navy (PN) is concerned. PN organised and hosted the Pakistan Naval Defence Show 99 (PNDS 99) at the Exhibition Complex in Karachi in collaboration with Export Promotion Bureau (EBP) from May 22 until May 25. Incidentally this event is the first of it's kind in Pakistan and is a feather in the cap of the PN.

The organising and thereafter, hosting of this event was a Herculean task because of the massive logistics involved. More than a year ago, in early 1998 the idea for holding such an event took root and then gathered momentum, thanks to the PN Logistics Command. Since the active participation of local and international industrial concerns, specially defence-related units would be imperative for the success of this Show the PN undertook the challenge in a methodical manner, initiating extraordinary measures, both on the home front and abroad. On the local scene a never-ending series of presentations and briefings was undertaken by the PN to introduce the concept to various representatives of local industries who would be interested in taking part in the event. Internationally too, the story was no different, Pakistani Embassies and Missions were asked to gear up and advertise the Show with maximum intensity and thrust. This was backed up with a vigorous advertising campaign in the local and international print media including some prestigious defence-related journals. Numerous Press Conferences were held wherein the significance and potential of this Show was highlighted and explained. The Ambassadors, Consulate Generals, Attaches of the Armed Forces of foreign countries in Pakistan were also delivered briefings and updates so as to keep them informed and up-dated.

Pakistan has very specific and special security and defence requirements based on it's geographical location and also because of the regional geo-political environment that has kept changing rapidly. While there is heavy reliance on other countries to meet Pakistan's defence related needs there is an urgent need for pragmatic and realistic efforts to be made at the national level to encourage and boost production locally so that this dependence on others can be brought down to a minimum. The government is alive to this situation and constant measures continue to be initiated by it to achieve a higher degree of self-sufficiency in this area. PNDS 99 is the Pakistan Navy's contribution towards that goal.

The four-day PNDS 99 was aimed at promoting collaboration between foreign and local industry in the manufacture of defence equipment and also to extend assistance, wherever possible to arms of the various domestic industry with the view to strengthening the economy of the country. Another important aspect of this Show was to move towards indigenous production of naval systems. According to Rear Admiral Arshad Munir Ahmed, Commander Logistic PN this exhibition would highlight the rapidly expanding opportunities in the construction and component sub-contracting market for surface warships, submarines and coastal vessels, major refits and modernisation of vessels and their on-board system and ancillary equipment. On display at the four-day Show were defence-related technologies, communications and weapons, sensors, computer hardware and software, naval air armaments, etc.

That PNDS 99 has proved to be immensely successful cannot be questioned because apart from a host of national and international industrialists of renown, official delegations from countries like China, France, Qatar, Oman, Turkey, Malaysia, Belgium and Nigeria also attended. International armaments manufacturers and defence-related manufacturing organisations took an acute interest in the Show, this aspect was reflected by the number of stalls set up by these participants. Among the major international participants were:-

+ ECA Boulogne of France : Underwater Mine Destruction Vehicles.

+ DCN International of France: Submarines

+ Lemoine Perignon of France : Originally a traditionally transport company it has, over the years developed a close relationship with the Defence and Aerospace industries.

+ Teuchos of France: Fluid dynamics, Materials and Structures, Flight Mechanics and dynamics, Electromagnetics, Opto-electronics, Telecommunications and Networks, Electricity and Electronics, Quality and Reliability, Project Management and Computer Science.

+ Alcatel of France: Switches for Military Infrastructure Systems.

+ Rolls Royce of UK: Marine Propulsion Systems

+ China North Industries Corporation of China : Day/Night Viewers, Hand- held Laser Range finder, H/PJ76A Twin -Barrel Naval Gun, Land-to-sea Laser Range finder, etc.

It was quite encouraging to see the interest and active participation in PNDS 99 by the local sector (private as well as government) as both were well represented. A few of the organisations which took part in the Show were Export Promotion Bureau, Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works, Mirage Rebuild Factory, Aircraft Manufacturing Factory,,F-6 Re-build Factory, Pakistan Ordnance Factories, Peoples Steel Mills, HMA Stainless Steel Pump Manufacturers (Pvt) Limited, Bahria Paints, Bahria Card System, Silicon International, Buxly Paints Limited, Dr. A.Q. Khan Research Laboratories, Desto Laboratories, Pakistan Machine Tool Factory (Pvt) Limited and others.

PNDS 99 should give sufficient exposure as well as inspiration to local manufacturers for collaboration and participation in the area of Defence Technology and has no doubt enabled them to benefit from the guidance and information they may have received from experts in the field. More importantly it will have enabled a unique one-on-one contact with international organisations under one roof where ideas and concepts could be exchanged and possibilities for cooperation explored and discussed. For a country like Pakistan this alliance between the private sector and the armed forces in the production of defence equipment is a step in the right direction and will now open avenues which will further strengthen this partnership in times to come whereby the ultimate goal of self-reliance can be achieved. As far as the foreign participants of PDNS are concerned this Show will have provided them with the opportunity of exploring first-hand the potentials that exist in Pakistan and the possibilities of entering into beneficial joint-venture relationships.

The making possible of active participation by a large number of foreign organisations is aptly indicative of the overall organising and marketing abilities of the PN because this was no ordinary task - it required tactful and organised planning, the putting in place and execution of mammoth logistics and tons of dedication combined with an extremely well co-ordinated teamwork. The Export Promotion Bureau and all our Foreign Missions abroad have also been instrumental as they have enacted a major role towards the success of this venture. In effect this has been the result of good team work and everyone concerned deserves to be congratulated and praised, most of all the Pakistan Navy who conceived the idea and transformed it into reality.