RAWALPINDI: The Aviation Division would shortly introduce a new policy for Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for the safe civilian and commercial use of drones and quadcopters in the country.

A draft policy has been prepared and is being currently circulated among stakeholders for their comments and opinion.

The draft would be placed before the appropriate forum for approval.

Aviation Division spokesman Abdul Sattar Khokhar said in a press release on Thursday that UAS is a new component of aviation system based on cutting-edge developments in aerospace technologies, offering advancements which may open new and improved civil/ commercial applications as well as improvements to the safety and efficiency of all civil aviation.

It includes model aircraft, drones, quadcopters and air balloons etc. Its use is increasing in the world and has opened new challenges for countries to regulate the usage of this technology.

“At the initiative of Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, the Aviation Division has taken a leap forward and has drafted a comprehensive Unmanned Aircraft System policy to facilitate and promote the use of Unmanned AircraftSystem for civil purposes by ensuring safety and security,” said the spokesman.

The policy broadly covers usage of Unmanned Aircraft System for recreational, non-recreational, sports, photography, media coverage, commercial, agriculture and many more purposes.

Once the policy is formulated, it will open new ventures for local industry and will provide incentive to people and business communities to make best use of it.

The draft policy has been circulated among all stakeholders for their views and comments.

After consideration and incorporation of feedback from the concerned stakeholders, the draft policy shall be placed before the appropriate forum for approval, the spokesman said.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2020