Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production Chairman Lt-Gen (r) Abdul Qayyum said on Sunday that Pakistan is self-sufficient in developing quality defence products and meeting requirements of its armed forces indigenously.
“Pakistan’s defence production quality is second to none in the world, which is evident from the fact that two AWACS aircraft damaged in a terrorist attack at the Kamra Airbase have been fully repaired at a minimum cost. The supplier had refused to repair the aircraft due to severity of the damage,” the Defence Production Committee chairman said.
Qayyum, who also served as Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) Chairman said that the prime responsibility of defence production departments was to fulfill needs of the country’s armed forces. However, the surplus capacity was being used to produce items for exports.
He said there was a lot of potential to increase defence productions’ exports whether they were JF-17 Thunder, Super Mushak, Military Trainer or AK8 aircraft, adding that the country was also self-sufficient in making good quality small arms like mortar bombs, G-3 rifles, grenades, artillery and tank ammunition ranging from 200 pounds to 2,500 pound shots.
Answering a question about India’s arms deal with the US, the Qayyum said that India was using the entire procured mechanised arms and attack-formations at Pakistan’s eastern border as the supply that contained tanks was useless in northern Himayalan mountains and south Indian ocean except along the border with Pakistan.
“We increased our tactical nuclear capability and attracted attention of the world which admitted that Pakistan is number three in this capability after Russia and the US,” he said.
He said that Pakistan’s nuclear capability was defensive in nature and the country had no offensive designs against any one rather it was for peace in the South Asian region. “The deal can be a big hurdle in the way of regional peace. We appeal to super powers that it will trigger an arms race and pose threats in the region,” the retired General said.