RIYADH: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif announced that numerous countries have expressed keen interest in acquiring Pakistan’s fighter jets and other advanced defense technologies. He made the statement while participating in the World Defense Show in Riyadh, highlighting the potential for defense exports to become a major pillar of the national economy.
Asif arrived in the Saudi capital at the official invitation of the Kingdom’s government. He was received by Saudi officials and Pakistan’s Ambassador, Ahmed Farooq, and later held a meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. The minister congratulated the Saudi leadership on the exhibition’s organization, calling it a significant milestone for regional defense cooperation.
Addressing the international forum, Asif asserted that Pakistan has carved out a “unique position” in the global defense arena. “Many countries of the world are eager to acquire Pakistan’s fighter jets and other defense technology,” he stated, emphasizing that this indigenous defense capability is poised to play a substantial role in strengthening Pakistan’s economy.
Pakistan is among 80 nations participating in the major defense exhibition. Its pavilion, featuring entities like Global Industrial and Defense Solutions (GIDS), Heavy Industries Taxila, and Pakistan Ordnance Factories, showcases a range of military hardware. Key attractions include the indigenously developed Fateh-2 missile system and other advanced defense equipment, underscoring the country’s growing defense industrial base.
