Senate panel lauds launch of Google Chromebooks assembly line
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production has lauded the launch of the Google Chromebooks Assembly Line at the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) Haripur, terming it a “historic milestone in Pakistan’s digital manufacturing ecosystem.”
During an extensive visit to NRTC headquarters on Wednesday, Chairman Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir said the new assembly line must be paired with expanded internship and youth training programs to ensure the transfer of high-impact digital skills across Pakistan.
The Committee, comprising Senators Dost Ali Jeesar, Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, Jan Muhammad and Dr AfnanUllah Khan received comprehensive briefings on NRTC’s operations, technological capabilities and its Five-Year Strategic Growth Plan (2025–2030). Senior NRTC leadership led a full tour of production units, research labs, and secure communication facilities.
Established in 1966, NRTC is Pakistan’s oldest and only self-financed, state-owned high-tech defence and ICT manufacturing entity. Operating under the Ministry of Defence Production, it employs over 2,000 personnel— 80 percent highly qualified PhD/ MS engineers —across 188,000 sq m facility with international offices in the Middle East and Africa.
The Committee was informed that NRTC holds 31 registered patents with more than 50 in the pipeline, reinvesting up to 10 percent of its annual revenue into R&D. Its strategic plan is anchored on technological upgradation, smart-factory industrial expansion, product diversification, export-led growth, localization partnerships, and workforce development through Centres of Excellence.
A SWOT assessment highlighted NRTC’s strategic advantage as an SOE with Special Technology Zone status, strong export potential and diversified products, while noting persistent challenges such as capital mobilization constraints, regulatory hurdles and global competitive pressures.
Senator Abdul Qadir said inter-ministerial coordination must be strengthened to support domestic manufacturing. He said: “Finance, Commerce, Revenue, Cabinet Secretariat and PPRA must convene jointly to remove procurement bottlenecks and accelerate local production.”
In a briefing at NRTC’s secure communication division, members were told that “FaceTime offers better encryption layers compared to WhatsApp,” underscoring NRTC’s focus on secure communication systems, cyber security and electronic warfare.
The Chairman also praised NRTC’s academic partnerships with leading Pakistani universities, its industrial research collaborations, and its internship and training ecosystem, recommending nationwide expansion.
A detailed financial review covering 2019–2024, along with projections for 2025–2030, was presented, outlining NRTC’s growth trajectory in AI, cyber defence, robotics, secure communications and advanced mobility systems.
The Committee further appreciated NRTC’s extensive employee welfare programs, including free health insurance, a 1,100-student education and vocational school, scholarships, paid internships, interest-free loans, full educational support for children of deceased employees, and annual Hajj/ Umrah sponsorships.
Reaffirming full confidence in NRTC’s leadership and strategic direction, the Committee said institutions like NRTC are central to Pakistan’s technological future.
Concluding the visit, Senator Abdul Qadir said: “Pakistan’s people deserve a technology-secure future. Skill transfer, indigenous manufacturing, and strong national institutions are essential to achieving that vision.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025