ISLAMABAD, Jul 23 (APP):The two-day Indus RAS (Robotics and Autonomous Systems) Expo 2026 concluded on Thursday at the Pak-China Friendship Centre in Islamabad. The National Technology Fund (Ignite), working under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), organised the event in collaboration with the National Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA) and the NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (E&ME). The expo brought together policymakers, defence organisations, industry …
Indus RAS Expo 2026 concludes in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD, Jul 23 (APP):The two-day Indus RAS (Robotics and Autonomous Systems) Expo 2026 concluded on Thursday at the Pak-China Friendship Centre in Islamabad.
The National Technology Fund (Ignite), working under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), organised the event in collaboration with the National Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA) and the NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (E&ME).
The expo brought together policymakers, defence organisations, industry leaders, researchers, universities, startups, investors, students and technology professionals to promote Pakistan’s robotics ecosystem and encourage the use of autonomous technologies in different sectors.
The event highlighted the growing role of robotics and autonomous systems in industries such as manufacturing, defence, agriculture, healthcare, logistics, transport and public services.
The expo aimed to help Pakistan strengthen its position in robotics and artificial intelligence by providing a platform for innovators, researchers and businesses to showcase local technologies, share ideas and build partnerships.
Visitors explored displays featuring defence robotics, drone technology, industrial automation, maritime autonomous systems, agritech, Physical AI, human-machine collaboration, AI-powered decision support systems and solutions developed by startups.
Universities, research institutions, technology companies, startups and public-sector organisations displayed locally developed products, research projects, advanced prototypes and live demonstrations, highlighting Pakistan’s progress in advanced engineering and intelligent systems.
The event also featured the RAS Innovation Challenge and the RoboWars Competition, where students, engineers and startups presented robotics, drone and autonomous system projects before a panel of industry experts.
High-level plenary sessions and an Immersive Experience Dome were also part of the expo, offering interactive storytelling and 360-degree digital experiences to demonstrate the potential of emerging technologies.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmed, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja and other federal ministers attended the event.
Speaking on the opening day, Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Pakistan had decided to build the complete robotics and artificial intelligence value chain and achieve technological self-reliance.
She said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was committed to the vision of Digital Nation Pakistan, where technology would become the main driver of productivity, employment and economic growth.
She said artificial intelligence was moving beyond the digital world into physical systems, with robots now being used in factories, warehouses, farms, roads, critical infrastructure, disaster response and national security.
The minister said countries leading these technologies would shape the future global economy, while those that depended on others would fall behind. She added that Pakistan had chosen to become a leader in these fields.
On the second day, families and students visited the expo and explored different technology stalls.
One of the visitors, Kamran Murad, who attended the event with his children, told APP that his kids were especially interested in the drone displays presented by a school from Islamabad.
He said he also visited stalls set up by universities from Lahore, where robots were performing different tasks.
He said he was impressed by the level of technology and innovation displayed at the exhibition.
