LAHORE, Jan 2: The Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) has formulated a plan to increase the volume of Pakistan defence products’ exports to $250 million in five years period from the present mark of $40 million.

“This target can be achieved through the combined efforts of the DEPO and defence manufacturers from both public and private sectors,” DEPO Planning and Development director Air Cdr Mansoor Malik told executive committee members of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) here on Wednesday.

He said under the plan efforts were being made to improve the products of low value range and execute the sales of high value products.

Pakistan’s traditional high value products include Agosta 90-B and other naval crafts, basic and advance jet trainers, tanks and air launched weapon systems.

The non-traditional products are aerial target systems i.e. drones and UAVs, Radars and avionic systems modules, chaff and flare dispensers, Laser range finders and optical instruments, training simulators for land, naval and air systems, mine breaching and lifting equipment.

The DEPO official said the a number of countries of Middle East, Africa, South Asia and South East Asia had been identified for the promotion of Pakistan defence products exports.

He said about 100 defence products had the potential for being exported against the present number of 12.

Referring to the trends in international arms trade, he said total defence products imports by the countries of these regions stood at $25 billion. “ If Pakistan obtains one per cent share of the market, its defence exports can reach $250 million,” Mansoor Malik said.

He said the capital layout of Pakistan’s existing defence industrial infrastructure was about $15 billion.

To a question, he said the DEPO was planning to increase the defence product exports to the mark of $ one billion in 10 years to make it the second largest exporting sector after textiles.

He said the DEPO would participate in defence exhibition in Malaysia in April next and put the products on display.

He said the IDEAS-2002 defence products expo will be held in Karachi in September next.

Earlier, LCCI president Dr Khalid Javaid Chaudhry presented the address of welcome.—APP