ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has submitted adraft for an ordinance to establish Civil Drone Regulatory Authority (CDRA)in the country to Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Talking to TLTP, MoST consultant Umer Sajjad Chaven said that the federalgovernment has decided to set up a Civil Drone Regulatory Authority foreffective use of remote-controlled surveillance technology in variousfields.
He said after promulgation of the ordinance, drones would be allowedexclusively for civil purposes, including usage for agriculture,recreational activities and research & development, adding that the lawwould allow the government to carry out activities with the purpose ofobtaining new knowledge that shall enable the development of drone and itsassociated technology or creating new equipment, products and tools usingthe available information and resources, creating new systems, processesand services, including software production or improving those that areavailable.
Umer Sajjad said the authority would also regulate operation,manufacturing, assembling, designing, import, development and research ondrones and associated technologies used for civil purposes in Pakistan.
Other functions of the authority would be to grant, cancel and renewlicences for manufacturing, importing and operating drone and associatedtechnology on payment of some fees. Besides, the authority would have powerto prescribe standards for grant of licence to local manufacturers andimporters of drone and associated technologies and certify compliance ofsuch equipment with prescribed standards.
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The consultant said in order to support the local industry inmanufacturing, assembly, integration and design of drone and drone-basedapplications, the authority would monitor and enforce licences, besidesentering into contracts. “Once the ordinance is passed, the authority willattract investment into drones and associated technologies includingforeign direct investments, venture capital funds, public sectorinvestments, public-private investments and private funds.”
According to the draft, the authority would develop studies, feasibilityreports, experiments, public-private partnership frameworks, financialvehicles, technical research and surveys related to drones and itsassociated technologies.
