LAHORE: The Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (Paapam) and the Ministry of Defence, Research & Development Establishment, have agreed to explore partnership avenues between the organs of the defence ministry and auto/engineering parts manufacturers with the objectives of promoting self-reliance, preventing foreign reserves’ drainage and controlling the country’s trade deficit.

This was decided in a meeting held here Monday between Paapam and Ministry of Defence, Research & Development Establishment, with a view to meet the engineering needs of Defence Ministry through domestic engineering industries operating under the umbrella of the Paapam.

The Paapam delegation was led by its outgoing chairman Abur Razzaq Gauhar and Senior Vice Chairman Usman Aslam Malik, while RDE DG Major General Khurram Anwar Qadri was heading the Ministry of Defence delegation. Both sides agreed on exchanging the technical teams to gear up the initiative.

While welcoming the Paapam delegation, Major General Khurram Anwar Qadri said they were determined to satisfy its needs locally, as far as possible. He believed that “the local industry had matured now and can be depended upon.”

Paapam outgoing chairman Abdur Razzaq Gauhar, on this occasion, said “the country’s national defence was our front line and front priority as well.” He welcomed the shift of the policy by the Ministry of Defence to meet its aftermarket needs locally, which would save a lot of foreign exchange and create jobs and business opportunities for our industries.

Usman Aslam Malik emphasized the need for articulating some TORs to progress the initiative for our national security organs.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022