Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday urged all stakeholders to join a unified national innovation ecosystem, stressing the need to develop indigenous robotics and autonomous systems knowledge and technological capabilities.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the “Indus RAS – Robotics and Autonomous Systems Expo 2026”, the prime minister said Pakistan must embrace the technological revolution while ensuring that its benefits reach every segment of society.

“Let our universities, research and development centres, startups, industries, and farmers become part of one national innovation ecosystem, ensuring that the knowledge behind these technologies is indigenous, owned, and continuously advanced in Pakistan,” he said.

The premier emphasised that the robotics and autonomous systems revolution should not remain confined to advanced economies, large corporations, or major cities. Instead, he said, it should become a catalyst for inclusive growth by improving the lives of farmers, small businesses, women entrepreneurs, young innovators, and underserved communities across the country and the Global South.

Highlighting the rapid advancement of emerging technologies, PM Shehbaz said their increasing power also placed greater responsibility on governments and stakeholders.

As these technologies become more powerful, the prime minister said, the responsibility grows simultaneously.

“We must establish clear regulatory and ethical frameworks to ensure autonomous systems are safe, secure, transparent, and always used for the benefit of mankind,” he said.

The prime minister reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting innovation and technological development while ensuring that emerging technologies are deployed responsibly and inclusively for sustainable national progress.

The ceremony was attended by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, federal ministers, industry experts, industrialists, entrepreneurs, foreign delegates, brands, companies and students.

The prime minister also announced two landmark initiatives of the government which would shape the future of robotics and autonomous systems in the country: the Spark and Elevate programme to transform Pakistan’s research into world-class technologies, globally competitive enterprises and high-productive jobs, and establishing the Pakistan Venture Fund with an initial commitment of $20 million to catalyse investment in the country’s technology ecosystem.

PM Shehbaz said the future of robots and autonomous machines that Pakistan sought was not merely confined to technology.

“It was the story of a nation of about 250 million resilient people determined to re-imagine, to compete, and to build a better future for the generations to come.”

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“In fact, it is the story of our very young, bright people whose cherished dreams are ignited by the spark of curiosity, whose talent knows no bounds and whose ingenuity will shape our motherland, Pakistan, for a wonderful future,” the premier expressed hope.

PM Shehbaz said Pakistan stood at the cusp of a historic opportunity, “one we cannot and shall not miss. Pakistan will not be a nation that merely inherits the choices made by others. We will shape our own destiny through innovation, enterprise, self-reliance, and untiring efforts, God willing”.

The premier maintained that Pakistan’s progress depended on sustained hard work, dedication and determination, expressing hope that future generations would take pride in the nation’s achievements and inherit a brighter future.

He termed the Indus RAS Expo as “a landmark initiative” reflecting the country’s determination to become a leader in the 21st century’s technologies.

He recalled that Pakistan hosted the Indus AI Summit earlier this year, which brought together governments, technology leaders, researchers and entrepreneurs to shape Pakistan’s journey in the age of artificial intelligence.

“The RAS Expo gave that vision its tangible form, demonstrating how innovation could be translated into viable solutions that strengthen their economy, enhance security and improve the lives of their people.”

He observed that the country stood at an extraordinary moment in history, “where machines no longer just calculate, they can perceive, decide and act swiftly”.

“What once belonged to the realm of imagination has become a part of our everyday reality.”

Speaking on the issues faced by the agricultural community, he said, for generations farmers worked at the mercy of nature, faced water scarcity, rising input costs, fragmented land holdings and a climate that no longer kept its old promises.

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​​​​​​The prime minister said that with the help of emerging technologies, the agriculture sector can now witness a revolution.

Citing an example, he said, technology provided access and helped save lives in areas where roads and bridges were washed away.

Addressing the audience, the premier said Pakistan had made “remarkable progress in developing indigenous autonomous capabilities in the field of defence and security”.

“Under the dynamic leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, our armed forces have adopted cutting-edge technologies, some of which I just witnessed on display outside this hall. I have seen simulators 100% manufactured and assembled in Pakistan. Drones have already achieved more than 60% indigenisation,” he added.

The prime minister also praised the IT ministry, experts, professionals, and technocrats who contributed to these “remarkable achievements”.

Recalling Marka-e-Haq, the premier said the entire world witnessed the valour of armed forces resolutely guarding the physical and cyber frontiers through the effective use of advanced autonomous systems. He said the defence was led by Field Marshal Munir and ably supported by Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and Naval Staff Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

“The brave armed forces proved beyond any ray of doubt that Pakistan possessed not only the iron resolve to safeguard its sovereignty, but also the indigenous capability, technological prowess, and operational excellence required to employ advanced autonomous technologies in defence of their motherland,” he added.

The premier stated that “these remarkable military advancements” were an integral part of national defence.

“They will further strengthen our security architecture, make our defence more impregnable, and enhance our resilience against emerging and future threats,” he further observed.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the countries that led the new technologies would define the future global economy.

“Pakistan would own full value chains of robotics and artificial intelligence because advanced technological self-reliance was a national decision and today the government was ready to make that.”

Shaza said that under the visionary leadership of the prime minister, the government embraced a clear direction of “Digital Nation Pakistan” where technology was not simply another lever of the economy, but an actual engine of productivity, employment and national competitiveness.

The minister vowed to create an enabling environment for startups, investors and young people to compete globally.

“And the results are already visible,” she claimed, adding that the ICT export for the year noted a 21% growth.

This is a testament to the resilience of our industry and our policies, she stated further.

Citing the country’s progress and concluding her speech, the minister said, “We’ve moved 14 ranks up in the E-Governance Development Index, and we’ve moved 27 ranks up this year in the International Telecommunication Union’s ICT Development Index.”