Press Release Title: Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir, Chairman Senate Standing Committee On Defence Production Presiding Over A Meeting Of The Committee At National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (Nrtc), Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Press Release Date: 19th November, 2025

The Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production conducted a comprehensive visit and high-level meeting at the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) Haripur, Pakistan’s premier state-of-the-art defence technology and electronics enterprise. The Committee reviewed NRTC’s performance, ongoing initiatives, collaborations, financial outlook, and its Five-Year Strategic Growth Plan (2025–2030). The meeting was chaired by Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir and was attended by Senators Dost Ali Jeesar, Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, Jan Muhammad and Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan. Senior NRTC leadership—including MD NRTC Brig Azmat Shabbir, Brig (R) Raja Asghar (GM LMK) and Mr. Adil Khan (CFO) briefed the Committee and led an extensive tour of all operational and production facilities. The committee was briefed that Established in 1966 NRTC is Pakistan’s oldest and only self-financed, state-owned high-tech defence and ICT manufacturing entity, operating under the Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP). The Committee was informed that NRTC has registered 31+ patents, with 50+ in pipeline, and reinvests 8–10% of its annual revenue into research and development. NRTC presented its Five-Year Strategic Growth Plan (2025–2030), built on five pillars- Technology Upgradation & Advanced R&D, Industrial Capacity Expansion (Smart Factories), Product Diversification & Exports, Localization through PPPs, JVs & MoUs, Workforce Development & Centres of Excellence. The Chairman appreciated NRTC’s remarkable progress, stating that the NRTC stands as the highest parliamentary-reviewed national technology asset, and the Committee recognizes its strategic role in defence production, cyber security and high-tech innovation. He added that the Google Chromebook Assembly Line established at Haripur is a historic milestone. This initiative must be complemented with structured training and expanded internship programs to transfer essential digital skills to the youth. Senator Abdul Qadir further stated that collaboration between defence production, Commerce, Finance and Revenue and procurement authorities must be strengthened, recommending All relevant ministries including Finance, Commerce, Revenue, Cabinet Secretariat and PPRA must convene jointly to remove procurement bottlenecks and support domestic manufacturing. The Chairman Committee also praised NRTC’s strong academic ecosystem, noting that the internship, training and education programs run by NRTC are commendable and must be expanded nationwide. NRTC currently partners with top Pakistani universities for faculty engagement, industrial projects, scholarships, and paid internships. A detailed briefing was given on profits, losses, collaborations and JVs with local and international partners for 2019–2024 and future projections 2025–2030 in emerging technologies including AI, cyber defence, robotics, secure communications and mobility systems. The Committee lauded NRTC’s welfare initiatives, including, Free health insurance for employees and dependents, 1,100-student Education & Vocational School, Merit scholarships & paid internships, Interest-free loans, Free education for children of deceased employees up to Master’s level, Free annual Hajj/Umrah for 22 employees, Profit participation and old-age benefits The Senate Standing Committee expressed full confidence in NRTC’s leadership, technological capabilities and future roadmap. The Chairman Abdul Qadir concluded that Pakistan’s people deserve a technology-secure future. The transfer of skills, expansion of indigenous manufacturing, and strengthening of national institutions like NRTC are crucial to achieving that vision.