ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif visited the Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) on Thursday, Inter Services Public Relations said.

He was briefed about the products manufactured for defence and commercial purposes and various other facilities of HIT.

The briefing covered Al-Khalid-1 tank, manufacturing and rebuilding of armoured personnel carriers, Security Vehicles Dragoon, Protector and Mohafiz.

The army chief witnessed the production and demonstration of Al-Khalid-1.

He appreciated the efforts of HIT in manufacturing of defence and safety equipment of international standard and its support for field formations, such as Operation Zarb-i-Azb.

He encouraged efforts aimed at indigenisation and commercialisation of HIT products. Use of indigenous security vehicles Mohafiz and Protector was appreciated.

Gen Sharif emphasised the need for maintaining the highest standards during production and saving national wealth by attaining self-reliance.

Earlier, HIT Chairman Lt Gen Syed Wajid Hussain received the army chief at the industry.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2016