PM launches bold innovation push, unveils $20m venture fund to drive Pakistan’s robotics revolution

• Premier Shehbaz calls for unified national innovation ecosystem to develop indigenous technologies

• PM says robotics and autonomous systems must empower farmers, startups, women and underserved communities

• Urges robust regulatory and ethical framework to ensure safe, transparent and responsible use of emerging technologies

• Lauds armed forces’ indigenous defence capabilities, says drones have achieved over 60% indigenisation

• Spark and Elevate programme launched to turn research into globally competitive enterprises and high-value jobs

• Indus RAS Expo showcases Pakistan’s ambition to become a leading player in next-generation technologies

  ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for the creation of a unified national innovation ecosystem to accelerate Pakistan’s technological transformation, urging universities, research institutions, startups, industries and farmers to jointly develop indigenous knowledge and cutting-edge technologies that would position the country among the leaders of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the “Indus RAS – Robotics and Autonomous Systems Expo 2026,” the prime minister said Pakistan must seize the opportunities presented by the global technological revolution while ensuring that its benefits reach every segment of society.

“Let our universities, research and development centres, startups, industries, and farmers become part of one national innovation ecosystem, ensuring that the knowledge behind these technologies is indigenous, owned, and continuously advanced in Pakistan,” he said.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff And Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshall Syed Asim Munir visit stalls at exhibition in the Indus RAS Expo 2026. Islamabad, 22 July 2026. pic.twitter.com/mDFd20lmB2

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 22, 2026

The prime minister emphasized that the robotics and autonomous systems revolution should not remain confined to advanced economies, multinational corporations or major urban centres.

Instead, he said, these technologies must become a driver of inclusive growth by improving the lives of farmers, small businesses, women entrepreneurs, young innovators and underserved communities across Pakistan and the Global South.

Highlighting the rapid pace of technological advancement, Shehbaz Sharif said the growing capabilities of emerging technologies also placed greater responsibility on governments, policymakers and all stakeholders.

“As these technologies become more powerful, our responsibility also grows simultaneously,” he said.

“We must establish clear regulatory and ethical frameworks to ensure autonomous systems are safe, secure, transparent, and always used for the benefit of mankind.”

The prime minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to promoting innovation and technological advancement while ensuring that emerging technologies are deployed responsibly, ethically and inclusively to achieve sustainable national development.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses the Indus RAS (Robotics and Autonomous Systems) Expo 2026. Islamabad ,22 July 2026. pic.twitter.com/fnJi8GSi91

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 22, 2026

The ceremony was attended by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, technology experts, industrialists, entrepreneurs, foreign delegates, representatives of leading brands and companies, and students.

On the occasion, the prime minister announced two landmark government initiatives aimed at shaping the future of robotics and autonomous systems in Pakistan.

The first, the Spark and Elevate Programme, is designed to transform Pakistan's research into world-class technologies, globally competitive enterprises and high-productivity employment opportunities.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshall Syed Asim Munir attending the Indus RAS Expo 2026. Islamabad, 22 July 2026. pic.twitter.com/vqS8BnXJcC

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 22, 2026

The second initiative is the establishment of the Pakistan Venture Fund, with an initial government commitment of $20 million to catalyse investment in the country's technology ecosystem and support innovation-driven enterprises.

The prime minister said the future Pakistan envisioned for robotics and autonomous systems was not merely about technological advancement but about empowering a nation of nearly 250 million resilient people determined to innovate, compete and build a brighter future.

“In fact, it is the story of our very young, bright people whose cherished dreams are ignited by the spark of curiosity, whose talent knows no bounds and whose ingenuity will shape our motherland, Pakistan, for a wonderful future,” he said.

The prime minister said Pakistan today stood at the threshold of a historic opportunity that it could neither afford nor allow itself to miss.

“Pakistan will not be a nation that merely inherits the choices made by others. We will shape our own destiny through innovation, enterprise, self-reliance, and untiring efforts, God willing,” he said.

وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے آج اسلام آباد میں منعقدہ انڈس راس روبوٹکس اینڈ اٹانومس سسٹمز ایکسپو کی تقریب میں شرکت کی اور خطاب کیا۔تقریب میں چیف آف آرمی سٹاف و چیف آف ڈیفنس فورسز فیلڈ مارشل سید عاصم منیر، وفاقی وزراء اور دیگر نے بھی شرکت کی۔

وزیراعظم نے کہا کہ انڈس راس روبوٹکس… pic.twitter.com/qFFBmZUa7X

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 22, 2026

He stressed that through hard work, determination and sacrifice, Pakistan would build a brighter, stronger and more prosperous future for generations to come.

Describing the Indus RAS Expo as a landmark initiative, the prime minister said it reflected Pakistan's determination to become a leading player in the technologies that would define the 21st century.

Recalling that Pakistan hosted the Indus AI Summit earlier this year, he said the summit had brought together governments, technology leaders, researchers and entrepreneurs to chart Pakistan's course in the era of artificial intelligence, while the RAS Expo translated that vision into practical innovations capable of strengthening the economy, enhancing national security and improving people's lives.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, inaugurated the Indus RAS – Robotics & Autonomous Systems Expo 2026, marking another step towards a technology-driven Pakistan.#IndusRASExpo2026 pic.twitter.com/h3tXsOV2Gu

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 22, 2026

“We stand at an extraordinary moment in history where machines no longer merely calculate—they can perceive, decide and act swiftly. What once belonged to the realm of imagination has become part of our everyday reality,” he observed.

The prime minister noted that for generations Pakistan's farmers had struggled against water scarcity, rising input costs, fragmented landholdings and the growing impacts of climate change.

He said emerging technologies were now transforming the agriculture sector, while in times of crisis they also provided vital access and helped save lives in areas where roads and bridges had been washed away.

PM Shehbaz said Pakistan had also made remarkable progress in developing indigenous autonomous capabilities in the fields of defence and national security.

“Under the dynamic leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, our armed forces have adopted cutting-edge technologies, some of which I have just witnessed on display outside this hall. I have seen simulators that are 100 percent manufactured and assembled in Pakistan. Drones have already achieved more than 60 percent indigenization,” he said.

The prime minister also commended the Ministry of Information Technology, experts, professionals and technocrats for their contributions to advancing Pakistan's technological capabilities.

Referring to last year's historic Marqa-e-Haq, he said the world had witnessed how Pakistan's armed forces effectively safeguarded the country's physical and cyber frontiers through the use of advanced autonomous systems under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, with the support of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

He said the armed forces had demonstrated beyond doubt that Pakistan possessed not only the unwavering resolve to defend its sovereignty but also the indigenous technological capability, operational excellence and expertise required to employ advanced autonomous technologies in defence of the country.

“These remarkable military advancements are an integral part of our national defence.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces & Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir attended the inaugural ceremony of the Indus RAS – Robotics & Autonomous Systems Expo 2026, underscoring Pakistan’s vision for innovation and emerging… pic.twitter.com/FFxxY61qzU

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 22, 2026

They will further strengthen our security architecture, make our defence more impregnable, and enhance our resilience against emerging and future threats,” he added.

New technologies will shape future economy: Shaza Fatima

Earlier, Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the countries leading in emerging technologies would shape the global economy of the future.

She said Pakistan was determined to build complete value chains in robotics and artificial intelligence, describing technological self-reliance as a national priority.

Shaza Fatima said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government had adopted the Digital Nation Pakistan agenda, under which technology was no longer viewed merely as a sector of the economy but as a key engine of productivity, employment and national competitiveness.

She said the government was creating an enabling environment for startups, investors and young innovators to compete successfully in global markets.

“The results are already visible,” she said, adding that Pakistan's ICT exports had grown by nearly 21 percent this year, reflecting the resilience of the country's technology industry and the effectiveness of government policies.

She further noted that Pakistan had climbed 14 places in the E-Government Development Index and 27 places in the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) ICT Development Index, highlighting the country's growing digital progress.