'Made in Pakistan', unlike the perception following products are all local made.

[CriticalThought]

So happy to see that our country is moving in the right direction, there is indeed a lot of work yet to be done, but I believe that we should focus on export oriented industrialisation,and on reaching as close to industrial self sufficiency as possible, this means that most of the products meant to be sold in the country would be produced locally and we would be able to export finished or unfinished products for economic growth.

The initiatives that I propose are:
1)Legislative reform to make Pakistan an attractive destination for companies to set up factories and production units, some measures could be:
*Lowering regulations and tax rates
*Subsidising the import of industrial machinery
*Establishing export oriented agreements with targeted countries(e.g.
FTAs etc
*Requiring all export products to have a small sticker that says "High Quality Product - Made in Pakistan" in the language of the country we are exporting to.
2)An Awareness campaign to advertise the attractivenes of our country as an industrial hub, we can seek inspiratin from other programs such as 'Invest in Germany' , 'Invest in Macedonia' , or even the Make In India campaign.

3)The creation of proper,unpoliticicized 'state corporations'. Russia has some of these such as Rostech( for local technological productiona dn export) , Gazprom(petroleum and oil sales) etc , these state corporations will not only boost our exports even when the private sector can't but they will also raise revenue for the state, hence taxes can be lowered on ordinary Pakistanis, stimulating economic growth.

I have a lot more in mind, and I can write on each of the above points in great detail, should I write a series of articles on this topic?

When foreigners invest in a country, they are looking to take profits out of it. It's a business transaction. Your country is not necessarily going to advance on the development axis. Meaning, you won't necessarily develop the capacity to indigenously produce something. Think about all those Toyota and Honda plants. If they decide to close shop today, pack up and leave, can Pakistan produce automobiles? Answer is, it can't. And even if they exist for the next hundred years, we can't. Even if somehow we were able to produce an automobile, we wouldn't be able to sell it.

National corporations have suffered terribly from corruption. PIA, Steel Mill, Sui, all are examples.

Today, if you want to produce something and export it, you have two paths: start reading associated patents, think of a really creative way of solving the problem that is not covered by any existing patents, then develop it and patent it. Not many projects proceed in this manner. The second, and more sane approach is to acquire a license to build something locally. Setup the plant, and start manufacturing. This sets up a revenue stream. Now either bring in more funding and/or use the income to start understanding everything in your manufacturing plant. As your understanding grows, start making small changes. Come up with creative new ways of doing things. And see if you can patent them. This is how you slowly start growing your intellectual property.

This requires extensive capital investments, and planning and oversight to ensure we improve our own indigenous competency, rather than giving foreign investors the chance to use our cheap labor and abundant resources to make their own money. And this is where our corrupt leaders have sold us out totally. They are more interested in their own well-being, rather than developing Pakistan into an advanced economy.

 

[N.Siddiqui]

So happy to see that our country is moving in the right direction, there is indeed a lot of work yet to be done, but I believe that we should focus on export oriented industrialisation,and on reaching as close to industrial self sufficiency as possible, this means that most of the products meant to be sold in the country would be produced locally and we would be able to export finished or unfinished products for economic growth.

The initiatives that I propose are:
1)Legislative reform to make Pakistan an attractive destination for companies to set up factories and production units, some measures could be:
*Lowering regulations and tax rates
*Subsidising the import of industrial machinery
*Establishing export oriented agreements with targeted countries(e.g.
FTAs etc
*Requiring all export products to have a small sticker that says "High Quality Product - Made in Pakistan" in the language of the country we are exporting to.
2)An Awareness campaign to advertise the attractivenes of our country as an industrial hub, we can seek inspiratin from other programs such as 'Invest in Germany' , 'Invest in Macedonia' , or even the Make In India campaign.

3)The creation of proper,unpoliticicized 'state corporations'. Russia has some of these such as Rostech( for local technological productiona dn export) , Gazprom(petroleum and oil sales) etc , these state corporations will not only boost our exports even when the private sector can't but they will also raise revenue for the state, hence taxes can be lowered on ordinary Pakistanis, stimulating economic growth.

I have a lot more in mind, and I can write on each of the above points in great detail, should I write a series of articles on this topic?

Very good points mentioned by you about 'how to get started' and branding the 'Made in Pakistan' tag with high quality products made in Pakistan...Pakistan suffers an image perception which is skewed and need to be corrected.

Also you can contribute here with your valued thoughts and keep writing and posting...any contribution serves as a value addition, to brand the positive image of Pakistan.

 

[PakBlood]

Very good points mentioned by you about 'how to get started' and branding the 'Made in Pakistan' tag with high quality products made in Pakistan...Pakistan suffers an image perception which is skewed and need to be corrected.

Also you can contribute here with your valued thoughts and keep writing and posting...any contribution serves as a value addition, to brand the positive image of Pakistan.

Ah, yes, thank you for the positive statement and advice, I'll be trying my best to write one of my first articles here soon

When foreigners invest in a country, they are looking to take profits out of it. It's a business transaction. Your country is not necessarily going to advance on the development axis. Meaning, you won't necessarily develop the capacity to indigenously produce something. Think about all those Toyota and Honda plants. If they decide to close shop today, pack up and leave, can Pakistan produce automobiles? Answer is, it can't. And even if they exist for the next hundred years, we can't. Even if somehow we were able to produce an automobile, we wouldn't be able to sell it.

National corporations have suffered terribly from corruption. PIA, Steel Mill, Sui, all are examples.

Today, if you want to produce something and export it, you have two paths: start reading associated patents, think of a really creative way of solving the problem that is not covered by any existing patents, then develop it and patent it. Not many projects proceed in this manner. The second, and more sane approach is to acquire a license to build something locally. Setup the plant, and start manufacturing. This sets up a revenue stream. Now either bring in more funding and/or use the income to start understanding everything in your manufacturing plant. As your understanding grows, start making small changes. Come up with creative new ways of doing things. And see if you can patent them. This is how you slowly start growing your intellectual property.

This requires extensive capital investments, and planning and oversight to ensure we improve our own indigenous competency, rather than giving foreign investors the chance to use our cheap labor and abundant resources to make their own money. And this is where our corrupt leaders have sold us out totally. They are more interested in their own well-being, rather than developing Pakistan into an advanced economy.

Yes, I understand now, so the 'key' is not to simply let foreign companies produce on our soil but rather to create or encourage Pakistani firms towards creating and producing entirely indigenously and genuinely designed products that are of marketable value around the world so that we can truky be technologically and industrially self-relient.

When you mentioned that foreign companies could simply close and leave , that really got me thinking, quite enlightening actually! So, then since state corporations seem to incline towards corruption,I suppose that then we should try to replicate a sort of 'start-up culture' here similiar to that in Silicon Valley in California or the Silicon Wadi in Israel, so that private firms at their own risk launch companies that push for technological advancement.

However, It is also true that we only have a handful of firms across any given industry, with our current industrial base consisting of companies in the textile,fertilizer, or construction related industries, these firms do'nt perform very well, their products are not competitive on the global market and to add salt to the wounds, these firms are in turn owned by families that have their hands dirty with politics, for example the Sharif family or the Zardai/Bhutto family, they make it extremely difficult for us common Pakistanis to start such businesses through threats & intimidation, extrortion money, demand for bribes or complicated regulations and procedures.Those that fail to sin, end up in situations like the Baldia Factory Fire incident. What shoukd be done?

 

[N.Siddiqui]

Pakistan is exporting surveillance and other drones to more than 30 countries, including US, UK, Germany and many EU and other countries.



Integrated Dynamics is a Karachi-based private company that specializes in UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle). It has several models developed already that are working in the field.


Similarly, The SATUMA lies 25 km out of Islamabad on the bank of river Soan with an engineering floor area of 5,000 Sq. ft. and a small airstrip for testing and evaluating scaled air frames, testing engines and other outdoor activities.

https://propakistani.pk/2009/05/18/made-in-pakistan-drones/




INTEGRATED DYNAMICS offers design consultancy, subsystems, and turnkey solutions for your sUAS/UAS/UAV development. We have over two decades of experience in prototyping and developing UAS for the government and private sector both in Pakistan and internationally. By offering complete, tested, systems we can assure our customers that they are buying the most competitive unmanned systems in their class.

INTEGRATED DYNAMICS provides design, consultancy and turn-key project commissioning for Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle (UAV) systems. We can assist you from the ground up in the rapid completion of your project from the conceptual stage to actual proto type flight tests in the shortest possible time.


http://www.idaerospace.com/

Border Eagle

Vision MK-I

Vision MK-II

Hawk MK-V

Hornet

Vector

Check Integrated Dynamics website for more info.

http://www.idaerospace.com/Default.asp

 

[CriticalThought]

Ah, yes, thank you for the positive statement and advice, I'll be trying my best to write one of my first articles here soon



Yes, I understand now, so the 'key' is not to simply let foreign companies produce on our soil but rather to create or encourage Pakistani firms towards creating and producing entirely indigenously and genuinely designed products that are of marketable value around the world so that we can truky be technologically and industrially self-relient.

When you mentioned that foreign companies could simply close and leave , that really got me thinking, quite enlightening actually! So, then since state corporations seem to incline towards corruption,I suppose that then we should try to replicate a sort of 'start-up culture' here similiar to that in Silicon Valley in California or the Silicon Wadi in Israel, so that private firms at their own risk launch companies that push for technological advancement.

However, It is also true that we only have a handful of firms across any given industry, with our current industrial base consisting of companies in the textile,fertilizer, or construction related industries, these firms do'nt perform very well, their products are not competitive on the global market and to add salt to the wounds, these firms are in turn owned by families that have their hands dirty with politics, for example the Sharif family or the Zardai/Bhutto family, they make it extremely difficult for us common Pakistanis to start such businesses through threats & intimidation, extrortion money, demand for bribes or complicated regulations and procedures.Those that fail to sin, end up in situations like the Baldia Factory Fire incident. What shoukd be done?

Turn the task of industrial development over to Army. Initially, there can be a dedicated section in the Army, but over time this branch will have a completely separate induction and career path. They will be subject to Army's strict character building, disciplined training regime. Fraud and malpractice will lead to court martial. The most shining example of industrialization done right is PAF's Thunder project.

 

[volatile]

You cannot skip levels. The UK produces the EJ-200 as well. They have the fundamentals in place. The biggest example of what happens when you skip to a services based economy without a solid manufacturing base is America which is only thriving because they hold the big stick and print dollars for the rest of the world. They don't have enough jobs fof everyone and the difference between rich and poor is only getting bigger.

Hi Eurofighter incontext to one way is superb example and how they reach to this level is again debatable ,Im glad you understand that by making one aeroplane and overall life cycle of 100`s of Million of $ its better to target the high end products for the second part of your argument ,We should not be inventing the wheel to create solid manufacturing base as manufacturing jobs will shift from one country to another simply because of basic economics / economies of scale third part that Can we skip the step my answer yes How already there are 10 Million + Pakistanis working in world leading organizations and learning and acquiring those skills . Real question is are we investing in R&D No we are not ,R&D is the key to ensure skipping all these steps , Apple is prime example where R&D is done in US but manufacturing is done else where .

Oh, BTW, between the lines you have implied that Pakistanis are too dumb to create any meaningful products that can sell in the world market.

I beg to differ on this interpretation ,Pakistani`s are the most talented people i came across but like many other the sheer and raw talent is enemy of itself . Till the time industries are not running with professional people you are right we can't sell meaningful classical example is Cotton and Yawn and we failed to sell end product i,e garment as Seth sabh only like simple things and with subsidiaries

 

[N.Siddiqui]

Turn the task of industrial development over to Army.

A civil-mil collaboration, contribution, a nexus is better rather, ideally speaking. Like Pak Army Burraq armored drones are mostly developed in NESCOM, a civilian entity with support from Army. In 2004 the number of people working in NESCOM Pakistan was 30,000, now must be more.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Engineering_and_Scientific_Commission

Fully Integrated, Precision Engineering for Demanding Industries

The Precision Engineering Complex (PEC) at PIA manufactures high precision parts for the aerospace industry and a number of other industries

Across the globe, PEC products take to the skies every day. The PEC is a supplier to USA and Europe and serves companies such as General Electric, Airbus Industries and Boeing. Services run the gamut from simple machining jobs to complex shaping using high precision CNC controlled equipment.

PAC Kamra also supplies precision parts to Boeing company USA.

http://www.piac.com.pk/PIA_Business/pia-engineering_pec.asp

http://www.historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5633

 

[CriticalThought]

A civil-mil collaboration, contribution, a nexus is better rather, ideally speaking. Like Pak Army Burraq armored drones are mostly developed in NESCOM, a civilian entity with support from Army. In 2004 the number of people working in NESCOM Pakistan was 30,000, now must be more.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Engineering_and_Scientific_Commission

Agreed. Military involvement is essential.

Fully Integrated, Precision Engineering for Demanding Industries

The Precision Engineering Complex (PEC) at PIA manufactures high precision parts for the aerospace industry and a number of other industries

Across the globe, PEC products take to the skies every day. The PEC is a supplier to USA and Europe and serves companies such as General Electric, Airbus Industries and Boeing. Services run the gamut from simple machining jobs to complex shaping using high precision CNC controlled equipment.

PAC Kamra also supplies precision parts to Boeing company USA.

http://www.piac.com.pk/PIA_Business/pia-engineering_pec.asp

http://www.historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5633

Let's see them innovating new production techniques that require less cost, of are more environmentally friendly etc. Otherwise this is one of many copying ad nauseum projects already running in Pakistan.

 

[Alternative]

These are manufactured in Pakistan, but not designed and developed in Pakistan. We have a long way to go before we reach that level.

I know from first hand knowledge that your perception is not correct.
For example take the example of PEL, which is operating in two sectors, Consumer Electrics and Power Sector Products: all are designed in-house.
Question of designing and manufacturing a part, lets say, a compressor (PEL used to make its own compressors years ago) is of a financial nature not of a ability to manufacture.

 

[N.Siddiqui]

Let's see them innovating new production techniques that require less cost, of are more environmentally friendly etc. Otherwise this is one of many copying ad nauseum projects already running in Pakistan.

For 'innovation' you need a knowledge based economy and a research and development(R&D) based ecosysytem which Pakistan lacks but there are exceptions here and there.... some brilliant minds here.

- Collaboration between engineering universities and center of excellence and big manufacturing companies say like DAWLANCE or Pak Suzuki here can make the difference. Like engineering graduates should be hired immediately from the universities after the final semester and their research thesis should be supported by engineering companies in Pakistan.

-This is happening in corporate sector, FMCG's like Uni Lever, Nestle Pak, P&G Pakistan, Engro Food etc...they hire the brilliant minds from IOBM, IBA, SZABIST and LUMS Lahore immediately after graduation and this should be the normal practice with engineering and manufacturing big names as well.

-Also the research based incubators should be financed and sponsored by big manufacturing units and big names like Adamjees, Dawoods, Shirazis, Manshas...so on and so forth....this is happening in Pakistan like a NED engineering graduate chances of finding a job in big names like SIEMENS Pak or PHILLIPS Pak is still high, but R&D need to be supported by them, if not by them then it has to be Pakistan principal companies, SIEMENS will prefer R&D to be done in Germany...so on so forth.

 

[CriticalThought]

I know from first hand knowledge that your perception is not correct.
For example take the example of PEL, which is operating in two sectors, Consumer Electrics and Power Sector Products: all are designed in-house.
Question of designing and manufacturing a part, lets say, a compressor (PEL used to make its own compressors years ago) is of a financial nature not of a ability to manufacture.

Can you shed more light on what this 'design in house' entails? How much of it involves industrial relations with foreign companies?

 

[N.Siddiqui]

Meet 3 tech companies leading innovation in Pakistan

1) the internet is facilitating more entrepreneurial meritocracy
2) new business incubators in the country are preventing the premature demise of infant ventures
3) techie and business-savvy diaspora are returning to mentor young entrepreneurs
4) startup costs are relatively lower, and
5) local and international investors are gradually opening up their wallets to invest in Pakistan’s tech ventures.

All are driving Pakistan’s transition into a knowledge-based economy home to technological and scientific innovation.

It's also causing a mindset shift; most outsourcing and consulting companies are linear-scale businesses and don’t provide the leverage that product-based businesses do, and Pakistani entrepreneurs are finally understanding this.

International media is still abuzz with recently launched Groopic, a cool group photo-taking app developed by Pakistan-based developer Eyedeus Labs. The company and their product have been featured on CNN, CNET, TechCrunch and Gizmodo, among others. But Pakistani innovation doesn’t stop there; below are profiles of three more young innovative tech-based companies that are earning some good local recognition and are second to none when it comes to technological innovation.

The first, iTrak, is working on a hands-free, human computer interaction product to make computing accessible and useful for the over 20 million people in the world who have either lost their hands or are unable to control a computer mouse.

more details here...
https://www.wamda.com/2013/10/3-tech-innovation-startups-pakistan

 

[Alternative]

Can you shed more light on what this 'design in house' entails? How much of it involves industrial relations with foreign companies?

For example, on the Power Sector Side, PEL has the following product line;
-- Power transformers
-- Distribution transformers
-- HT/LT SwitchGears
-- Electricity meters - Digital etc
--
Reason for elaborating the Power Sector is that its main customer is the WAPDA entities: Genco's, NTDC, Disco's. And Wapda's system over the decades evolved into current form is quite different from, say China. Line loads, transformer ratings, technical losses ratios etc are quite unique; so is the design requirements. You can provide your own specifications and PEL can design and manufacture according to your specs. And PEL is not only company in Pakistan.

PEL or any other 'local manufacturing company' may boost about its technical collaboration it some xyz, but it is usually marking gimmick. These industries has matured in Pakistan.

 

[N.Siddiqui]

PEL can design and manufacture according to your specs.

Another big Pakistani conglomerate doing fine in power and chemicals is DESCON Pakistan.

Today, Descon owns and operates chemical and power plants, with allied interests in inspection and testing. Descon Chemicals Business comprises of Descon Oxychem Limited. Our Power Business takes shape in the form of Descon Power Solutions (DPS), providing power plant operations and maintenance (O&M) services for thermal and renewable power plants in Pakistan.

DESCON office Lahore, Pakistan

http://www.descon.com/en/who-we-are.php

http://www.descon.com/en/engineering-about.php

 

[CriticalThought]

For example, on the Power Sector Side, PEL has the following product line;
-- Power transformers
-- Distribution transformers
-- HT/LT SwitchGears
-- Electricity meters - Digital etc
--
Reason for elaborating the Power Sector is that its main customer is the WAPDA entities: Genco's, NTDC, Disco's. And Wapda's system over the decades evolved into current form is quite different from, say China. Line loads, transformer ratings, technical losses ratios etc are quite unique; so is the design requirements. You can provide your own specifications and PEL can design and manufacture according to your specs. And PEL is not only company in Pakistan.

PEL or any other 'local manufacturing company' may boost about its technical collaboration it some xyz, but it is usually marking gimmick. These industries has matured in Pakistan.

Are they exporting as well? If not, then why not?

Another big Pakistani conglomerate doing fine in power and chemicals is DESCON Pakistan.

Today, Descon owns and operates chemical and power plants, with allied interests in inspection and testing. Descon Chemicals Business comprises of Descon Oxychem Limited. Our Power Business takes shape in the form of Descon Power Solutions (DPS), providing power plant operations and maintenance (O&M) services for thermal and renewable power plants in Pakistan.

DESCON office Lahore, Pakistan

http://www.descon.com/en/who-we-are.php

http://www.descon.com/en/engineering-about.php

I regard exports as the litmus test of a hi-tech manufacturing firm. And I mean export to places such as EU, America, South East Asia. And it's excellence is in the patents it holds. How many patents do they have?