KARACHI, Pakistan: Pakistan is showcasing its latest advances in maritime and defence technologies — from autonomous sea vehicles and combat drones to innovations in aquaculture — at the second International Maritime Expo and Conference (PIMEC), highlighting the country’s growing capabilities in the blue economy and indigenous production.
The four-day conference started on Monday at the Expo Centre Karachi, is organised with the support of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and co-organised by Badar Expo Solutions, with the support from the Pakistan Navy.
Speaking on the occasion, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that despite Pakistan’s strategic location as a “natural maritime bridge” between the East and the West, the maritime sector contributes less than 1% to the country’s GDP.
Taking to X, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf said, “Pakistan has enormous maritime potential and its economic prosperity is inextricably linked to the development of its maritime sector.”
Accompanied by Tanvir Abbas, CEO of Badar Expo Solutions and organiser of the event, the minister highlighted that the current share of locally manufactured products and components for maritime use stands at around 10%, up from just 2% a decade ago.
“There is a massive improvement,” he said while talking about local production, “If you look at the bullet-proofing and bomb proofing of vehicles, these are all done locally, which wasn’t the case before.”
“We are going at a very fast rate…I think we’ll have exponential growth [of indigenous production] now,” he said.
“These opportunities extend beyond boosting local capabilities to include exporting our technology,” the minister said. The expo features around 150 local and 28 international exhibitors, with participants from 45 countries, including the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics.
𝐏𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐂 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 | 𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐄𝐫𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬
We’re all set to welcome global exhibitors, maritime professionals, and industry leaders, united under one platform to shape the future of the Maritime World.
📅 3rd–6th November 2025
📍… pic.twitter.com/Z6tRKRoo2z— PIMEC (@pimecexpo) November 2, 2025
Stingray Technologies
A Pakistani defence company with over two decades of expertise in land, air, sea, and cyber technologies has made significant advances in unmanned maritime solutions.
They have developed 25-foot unmanned surface vessels (USVs) equipped with ground control stations, allowing operators to pilot them remotely.
Currently deployed for reconnaissance, these USVs also possess offensive capabilities, can travel 20–30 kilometres, and remain operational for 4–5 hours.
The company also showcased a maritime logistics drone designed for small-scale replenishment operations, alongside the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS)—an all-in-one ship control system that centralises ship monitoring and maintenance.
“On a ship, everything is scattered. This system gives you all feeds so you can monitor from one place,” a company spokesperson explained.
Additionally, the firm is developing a virtual reality ship-training programme, aiming to create an immersive experience, including a moving platform that simulates the sensation of choppy waves beneath the trainee’s feet.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐂 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
From the depths of our seas to the gateways of global trade, Pakistan’s maritime journey is transforming into a global movement.
Through strategic leadership, national collaboration, and international engagement, PIMEC 2025… pic.twitter.com/P9dyOymuk1
— PIMEC (@pimecexpo) November 3, 2025
National Electronics Complex of Pakistan (NECOP)
The National Engineering and Scientific Research Organisation (NECOP), a leading R&D institution specialising in advanced electronic systems, is showcasing its flagship SAFRAH drone jamming gun.
This indigenously developed system is designed to counter the weaponisation of commercial drones.
According to a spokesperson, the SAFRAH gun operates using radar frequencies, with an effective range of 1.5 km and a battery life of 40 minutes, allowing for 70–80 shots per charge.
Weighing approximately nine kilograms, the device disrupts all communications between a drone and its controller, blocks the transmission of imagery, and forces the drone to either return or land safely.
NECOP has announced that technical demonstrations of the SAFRAH gun will be held for the public on November 4 at the Expo Centre.
Baykee
Aerospace Baykee Pakistan Pvt Ltd, the Pakistani arm of a global power-equipment manufacturer based in Lahore with technology and sourcing ties to its parent company in China, offers a wide range of power-focused solutions.
The company manufactures products for sectors including mining, defence, railways, satellites, and renewable energy, producing items such as batteries, lights, solar inverters, and power modules for submarines and defence systems.
A major supplier to the Navy and military, the firm showcased an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) designed for deep-sea repair operations, as well as a battery-powered portable jammer system for military use.
Woot Tech and Winged Innovative Solutions
Woot Tech, a Pakistani-founded aerospace and unmanned systems company, specialises in designing, developing, and manufacturing drones and target aircraft for both commercial and defence applications.
Their portfolio includes fixed-wing, multirotor, and hybrid Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) platforms capable of performing surveillance, mapping, cargo delivery, and target-drone operations.
At the exhibition, their standout displays included a large remote-controlled drone and an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) equipped with a rotary camera, which can serve as a reconnaissance vessel or operate as a “suicide drone.”
