ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday approved the establishment of Civil Drone Authority (CDA) to regulate unmanned aircraft systems in Pakistan, local media reported.
Pakistan is expanding the use and local manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) under a drone policy that was rolled out in December.
Drones are already used in the country's agriculture sector to fight off locust attacks, and last month the highway and motorway police announced they would use them to manage traffic flow and prevent crime.
“Establishment of drone authority will not only fill the existing vacuum due to non-availability of law to regulate this important sector but will also be instrumental in promotion and domestic production of this critical technology,” Khan said during a meeting in Islamabad, as quoted by local media outlets.
“It is the need of time that that the technology is used for commercial research, agriculture, and other peaceful purposes,” he added.
The CDA will be headed by the Aviation Division secretary and will include representatives from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Ministry of Defense Production, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Science and Technology.
