Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday approved the creation of the Civil Drone Authority (CDA) to regulate unmanned aerial vehicles in Pakistan, local media reported.
Pakistan is expanding the use and local production of unmanned aerial vehicles as part of a drone policy introduced in December.
Drones are already being used in the country's agriculture to ward off carob attacks, and last month highway police announced they would use them to control traffic and prevent crime.
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"The creation of a drone agency will not only fill the existing vacuum due to the lack of laws for this important industry, it will also contribute to the promotion and domestic production of this crucial technology," Khan said at a meeting in Islamabad.
ڈرون ٹیکنالوجی کے موثر استعمال سے وسائل کا موثر استعمال اور سروس ڈیلیوری کی بہتری میں مدد ملے گی: وزیرِ اعظم
— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) March 13, 2021
اتھارٹی کے قیام کے حوالے سے قانون سازی کے عمل کو ترجیحی بنیادوں پر مکمل کیا جائے اور کابینہ کی منظوری کے بعد بل کو پارلیمنٹ میں پیش کیا جائے : وزیرِ اعظم کی ہدایت
"It will take time for the technology to be used for commercial research, agriculture and other peaceful purposes," he added.
The CDA is headed by the Secretary of the Aviation Department and is made up of representatives from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Ministry of Defense Production, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said the use of drone technology for commercial, research and development, agriculture and other peaceful purposes was "the agenda".
He noted that the creation of a drone agency will not only fill the existing vacuum due to the lack of laws governing this important industry, but will also contribute to the promotion and domestic production of this critical technology.
In terms of development, Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the agency "has reached a new milestone".
Establishment of Drone Authority is another milestone achieved, we are focusing on Agriculture Drones and Police Drones another initiative to establish Disruptive technologies authority is underway that ll pave the way for 3D Printers and robotics industry in Pakistan
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 13, 2021
He said the focus is on agricultural and police drones and spoke of an initiative to create a "disruptive technology agency" that would pave the way for 3D printers and a full-fledged robotics industry in Pakistan.
