Defence exports’ potential to be explored under SIFC: minister

The export potential of the country’s defence production sector would be explored under a newly formed government body aimed at providing a single-window interface to potential investors, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Wednesday. “We have really good infrastructure [of defence production] … and we see the potential of export here,” he said, adding that by initiating exports in this sector, “our investment here will fulfil our defence needs while being a source of earning foreign exchange”, he said, according to a Dawn.com report. The minister made these remarks during a press conference in Islamabad after a meeting of the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s (SIFC) apex committee, which decided to take steps to bring about a green revolution and attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. Chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the meeting was also attended by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Asim Munir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan and other senior military and civilian officers.