Indus RAS Expo 2026 to showcase Pakistan's robotics ecosystem

July 16, 2026 (MLN): The National Technology Fund (Ignite), that operates under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), will host the Indus RAS (Robotics and Autonomous Systems) Expo 2026 on July 22-23 at the Pak-China Friendship Centre in Islamabad, aiming to strengthen the country's robotics ecosystem and accelerate adoption of autonomous technologies across strategic sectors.

The National Technology Fund said the two-day event will bring together policymakers, defence organisations, industry leaders, researchers, academia, startups, investors, students, and technology professionals, as robotics and autonomous systems continue to reshape economies worldwide, driving transformation across manufacturing, defence, agriculture, healthcare, logistics, transportation, and public services.

The expo aims to position Pakistan at the forefront of this technological shift by providing a collaborative platform where innovators, researchers, and industry representatives can showcase indigenous solutions, exchange knowledge, and forge partnerships to translate research into real-world applications, APP reported.

The event will feature innovations spanning defence robotics, drone technologies, industrial automation, maritime autonomous systems, agritech, Physical AI, human-machine collaboration, AI-powered decision support systems, and emerging startup solutions.

Leading universities, research institutions, technology companies, startups, and public-sector organisations will showcase locally developed products, advanced prototypes, applied research, and live technology demonstrations, highlighting Pakistan's growing capabilities in advanced engineering and intelligent systems.

Among the flagship attractions will be the RAS Innovation Challenge and the RoboWars Competition, where students, engineers, and startups will present original robotics, drone, and autonomous systems solutions before a panel of industry experts.

The event will also include high-level plenary sessions and an Immersive Experience Dome, combining interactive storytelling with 360-degree digital experiences.

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said robotics and autonomous systems were becoming fundamental drivers of economic competitiveness, industrial modernisation, and national resilience, adding that the expo reflected the government's and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's commitment to investing in innovation, empowering local talent, and creating opportunities for researchers and entrepreneurs to develop globally competitive technologies.

Ignite Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Bilal Abbasi said innovation flourished when academia, industry, and government worked together with a shared purpose, adding that the expo was designed to strengthen these connections, accelerate the commercialisation of indigenous technologies, and provide innovators with a national platform to demonstrate solutions that could shape Pakistan's technological future.

As a flagship event under the broader Indus AI initiative launched in February 2026, the expo reflects Pakistan's commitment to fostering innovation, strengthening academia-industry collaboration, and accelerating development of a world-class AI and robotics ecosystem.

The Indus RAS Expo 2026 is being organised in collaboration with the National Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA) and the NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (E&ME), and will be open to visitors on both days.

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