ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production on Wednesday passed a resolution, while taking notice of the Basic Exchange Cooperation Agreement (BECA), between Washington and New Delhi that was signed recently in India.

The committee was chaired by Senator Lt Gen Abdul Qayyum (retd), in which, he took stern notice of the agreement fearing severe consequences for Pakistan. Qayyum said that BECA would allow India and the US to share geospatial information, enable interoperability of forces, and acquisition of armed drones. It was asserted that even though this measure has been portrayed as a deterrent for China; yet Pakistan and the rest of South Asia stands to lose.

The chairman Committee said the agreement would play an important role in realizing the Indian ambition of becoming the regional hegemon, and would destabilize the strategic regional equilibrium; with severe consequences for Pakistan.

The committee was briefed in detail about the progress of Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT), business development plans and details of research projects. While briefing the Committee, it was informed that the aim of this enterprise was to manufacture, rebuild, upgrade and carryout R&D of armoured vehicles. The HIT can vastly be categorized into three sections that include manufacturing factories, rebuild plants and support facilities. Manufacturing units involve tank and gun manufacturing facilities and armoured personnel carrier (APC) production. The tank manufacturing facility has to its credit numerous 3rd generation auto-tracking tanks. It has successfully manufactured Tank Al-Khalid, T85IIAP, and T69IIMP.

The Committee was informed that VT-4 tanks, with enhanced night combat capabilities would be inducted soon.

The HIT’s APC facility manufactures M113 Family of armoured personnel carriers using state-of-the-art Computer Aided Design (CAD). The Gun Manufacturing Factory produces tank barrels and complete tank guns. Upgrade of manufacturing facilities for artillery gun barrels is in process. Rebuild Plants include Heavy Rebuild Factories designed to modernize and upgrade tanks and armoured recovery vehicles. Track vehicles and armoured personnel carriers fall under this ambit as well.

The Advance System Rebuild Factory supports the tank rebuild mission of HIT and carries out research and development in the field of fire control systems, optronics and thermal imaging. Electronics and electric sub-systems are included.

Support facilities at HIT involve development of engineering support and component manufacturing; which is the backbone engineering facility that has been engaged for indigenous development as well.

It has to its credit manufacture of over 22,000 varieties of spares.

In addition to the development and production sector; the HIT has been involved in research and development activities. The Advance Research, Development and Information Centre carries out integration of advance armour systems and has the capability to support research and development efforts. It also maintains a data bank for information.

Discussing HIT’s Commercial and Business plans, the Committee was informed that since its inception, HIT has contributed to various commercial activities. During the last five years, the HIT has deposited a sum of PKR 1.18 billion on account of sales, proportionate costs and taxes to the government exchequer.

In addition to this, savings accrued by HIT through sale of commercial products to law enforcement agencies of Pakistan amounts to PKR 9.21 billion. The Committee was informed that the facility is in the process of devising a costing mechanism to enhance man-machine hours to improve productivity. A commercial company, Margalla Heavy Industries Ltd has been registered with SECP in September, 2020. Operations, it is assumed, will begin in November, 2020.

The Chairman Committee observed that the organization had great potential for growth. He, however, was of the opinion that the HIT must step up efforts to spread forth its activities beyond borders and move towards international horizons. He said that this would benefit the country greatly thereby subsidizing the defence budget; essential for the growth of underdeveloped sectors in Pakistan.

He further stressed the need for taking on board marketing professionals to seize international markets, so that this goal was achieved within stipulated time. To avoid duplication of efforts and enhance research abilities, Senator Qayyum asserted the importance of knowledge sharing among similar organizations and market players.

While procuring goods and services from abroad, the Committee asserted the need to explore local markets, including the private sector in Pakistan.

The meeting was attended by Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak, Senator Muhammad Akram, Senator Anwar Lal Dean, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, and senior officers of the Ministry of Defence Production along with all concerned.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020