ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to explore new avenues for the indigenization of the defense industries in both countries, the country’s federal minister for defense production, Zobaida Jalal, told Arab News on Friday.
“My meeting with Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and other sidelined meetings in UAE were beneficial as these reestablished our old ties with our tried and trusted friends,” Jalal said during a phone interview, adding that she hoped the two sides would be able to sign an MoU or an agreement soon to strengthen the collaboration.
During the meeting with Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, on November 25 – which was attended by UAE Minister of State for Defense affairs, Muhammad bin Ahmad Al Bowardi, and Under-Secretary of the Court of Abu Dhabi – Jalal said that the two sides exchanged views on several bilateral, regional and international issues.
“Pakistan and the UAE vowed to the commitment of the leadership of the two countries for enhanced bilateral relationship,” Jalal said, before appreciating the UAE for working toward maintaining regional peace and security.
Jalal cited the Dubai Air Show as one of the prime examples of this fact. As one of the biggest events in the aviation sector, she said it provides the ideal platform for aviation tycoons to showcase their products and provide “opportunities for interactions at the governmental-cum-political level.”
“We have sold Mushshak and Super Mushshak (aircrafts) along with spares (parts) to countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Oman, Qatar, Iran, Nigeria and South Africa. Moreover, proposals have been submitted to UAE, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Zimbabwe and Qatar and response is awaited,” Jalal said.
Work is underway to provide 52 Super Mushshak (SMK) aircrafts to Turkey in the next five years, in addition to providing 10 SMKs and 3 JF-17 aircrafts to Nigeria, 10 SMKs to Azerbaijan, eight SMKs to Qatar, eight Mushshaks to Oman, six Mushshaks to Syria and 25 Mushshaks to Iran, Jalal said.
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) has been participating in the Dubai Air Show as an exhibitor since 2003, Pakistan Air Force’s media wing said in a statement given to Arab News.
“In the current chapter of DAS-2019, PAC participated in the event as an exhibitor with 01 SMK Super Mushshak aircraft on static park and establishment of an indoor stall to showcase its frontline products including the JF-17 Thunder aircraft. During the event, a number of meetings were conducted with the visiting delegates, potential customers and business entities at the indoor stall and static area,” the statement said.
Taking place every alternate year, the DAS sees the participation of leading manufacturers from the international aviation industry such as Rolls Royce, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney, General Electric, Dassault, SAAB, Boeing, and Air Bus.
The 2019 chapter was by far its biggest show attracting 1,300 exhibitors with 165 aircrafts on display.
