Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally opened the Indus Robotics Expo 2026 in Islamabad, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s push for technological advancement and economic progress. Inaugurating the exhibition, the Prime Minister said that the exhibition is a direct reflection of Pakistan’s resolute efforts towards becoming a leading player in this century of advanced technologies in the world.
The event underscores the nation’s strides in advancing artificial intelligence, automated machinery, and smart systems in various critical areas of the economy and security. The Prime Minister also announced two large financial and development initiatives which he said would help build up the local start-up culture and enable the commercialisation of academic research.
Transforming Agriculture and Disaster Response via Automation
One of the key initiatives that will be integrated into the theme of the Indus Robotics Expo 2026 is the implementation of autonomous systems to provide solutions to civil challenges. Sharif dwelled on the fact that robotics and automated technologies are now becoming part of the lifeblood of various industries—particularly agricultural—and that they are moving forward at a quick pace.
Now, with these new technologies, Pakistani farmers are able to:
Accurately detect early signs of crop stress and disease.
Utilize optimally the use of essential water resources, chemical fertilizers and pesticides on the field wide scale.
Generate very effective and data informed solutions to current climate challenges.
The Prime Minister also stated that these autonomous systems will have an important life-saving function in the country’s natural disaster management in the future. The automatic aerial drones and ground robotics will largely enhance the access to heavily hit disaster zones, which will be on par with logistical support during complicated relief operations.
The inaugural Indus Robotics & Autonomous Systems Expo 2026 is a landmark initiative that reflects Pakistan’s determination to become a leading player in the technologies that will define the 21st century. Drones have already achieved more than 60% indigenization. During… pic.twitter.com/Eo2OgnhyXP
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 22, 2026
Advancing Indigenous Defence and Autonomous Capabilities
Highlighting Pakistan’s domestic technological breakthroughs, the Prime Minister lauded the country’s rapid progress in national security technology. He commended local scientists, engineers, and technocrats for successfully developing state-of-the-art autonomous capabilities entirely within the country.
Under the institutional leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the armed forces have successfully integrated these cutting-edge, locally produced technologies into their operational frameworks. Prime Minister Sharif revealed that several advanced military simulators are now being manufactured and assembled entirely in Pakistan. Furthermore, the country’s domestic drone production has successfully achieved over 60 percent indigenization. Reflecting on the success of Marka-e-Haq, the PM stated that the global community has witnessed Pakistan’s seamless capability to safeguard both its physical and cyber frontiers using advanced autonomous systems.
Launch of Spark and Elevate Program and $20M Pakistan Venture Fund
To ensure that Pakistan’s technological momentum translates into sustainable economic prosperity, the Prime Minister announced two landmark initiatives designed to foster an inclusive innovation ecosystem:
The Spark and Elevate Programme: A structured national initiative launched to bridge the gap between academia and corporate enterprise. This program will actively transform local university research into globally competitive commercial technologies, scaling up new enterprises and generating high-quality engineering jobs.
The Pakistan Venture Fund: To address the critical funding challenges faced by young innovators, the government is establishing a dedicated venture fund with an initial financial commitment of $20 million. This state-sponsored fund is aimed at unlocking equity investment in Pakistan’s tech start-up ecosystem.
The Prime Minister further emphasized the importance of having clear, robust regulatory and ethical parameters in place. All newly-created autonomous systems shall be safe, clear and used for human benefit only, according to these guidelines.
