PM Launches Robotics Program, $20 Million Venture Fund for Pakistan-Made Technology

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a series of initiatives to boost Pakistan’s technology sector, declaring that the country will no longer remain dependent on foreign technology and will instead develop its own advanced capabilities.

Speaking at the Indus Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Expo, the prime minister launched the Spark and Elevate Program to promote robotics and autonomous systems and announced the creation of a $20 million Pakistan Venture Fund to support innovation, research, and technology startups.

He said the initiatives would help transform research into commercial technologies while creating high quality employment opportunities.

“We will not remain dependent on foreign technology but will chart our own destiny,” the prime minister said, adding that Pakistan is making steady progress in strengthening indigenous capabilities in defense, robotics, and autonomous systems.

Shehbaz said Pakistan has significantly expanded its domestic defense production, noting that military simulators are now manufactured entirely within the country, while more than 60 percent of drones used by the armed forces are produced locally. He said advanced technologies and cybersecurity played a key role in strengthening Pakistan’s defense capabilities.

The prime minister also stressed that technological progress should benefit the broader economy by improving agriculture, water management, climate resilience, and opportunities for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and farmers. He called for an ethical and legal framework to ensure the responsible use of autonomous systems.

Separately, Shehbaz welcomed S&P Global Ratings’ decision to upgrade Pakistan’s sovereign credit rating from B- to B, calling it a vote of confidence in the government’s economic reforms, fiscal discipline, and stabilization efforts. He said the upgrade would improve investor confidence and create new opportunities for foreign investment in Pakistan.