Ignite and the Ministry of IT & Telecom to Host Indus RAS Expo 2026, Showcasing Pakistan's Vision for the Future of Robotics and Autonomous Systems.
Ignite – National Technology Fund, operating under the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication (MoITT), will be hosting the Indus RAS (Robotics and Autonomous Systems) Expo 2026 on 22–23 July 2026 at the Pak-China Friendship Centre, Islamabad. The two-day national technology event will convene policymakers, defence organizations, industry leaders, researchers, academia, startups, investors, students and technology professionals to strengthen Pakistan's robotics ecosystem and accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies across strategic sectors.
As robotics and autonomous systems rapidly reshape economies around the world, they are driving transformation across manufacturing, defence, agriculture, healthcare, logistics, transportation and public services. Indus RAS Expo 2026 aims to position Pakistan at the forefront of this technological shift by creating a collaborative platform where innovators, researchers and industry can showcase indigenous solutions, exchange knowledge and forge partnerships that translate research into real-world impact.
The Expo will feature cutting-edge 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 organizations will present locally developed products, advanced prototypes, applied research and live technology demonstrations, highlighting Pakistan's growing capabilities in advanced engineering and intelligent systems.
Among the event’s flagship attractions will be the RAS Innovation Challenge and RoboWars Competition, where students, engineers and startups will demonstrate original robotics, drone and autonomous systems solutions before a distinguished panel of industry experts.
The event will feature high-level plenary sessions and an Immersive Experience Dome, combining interactive storytelling with 360-degree digital experiences to inspire the next generation of innovators and showcase the transformative potential of emerging technologies.
Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has said:
"Robotics and autonomous systems are becoming fundamental drivers of economic competitiveness, industrial modernization and national resilience. Indus RAS Expo 2026 reflects the Government of Pakistan’s and the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif’s commitment to investing in innovation, empowering local talent and creating opportunities for our researchers and entrepreneurs to develop technologies to compete on the global stage."
CEO Ignite, Mr. Muhammad Bilal Abbasi, added:
"At Ignite, we believe innovation flourishes when academia, industry and government work together with a shared purpose. Indus RAS Expo 2026 is designed to strengthen these connections, accelerate commercialization of indigenous technologies and provide innovators with a national platform to demonstrate solutions that can shape Pakistan's technological future."
As a flagship event under the broader Indus AI initiative held in February 2026, the Expo reflects Pakistan's commitment to fostering innovation, strengthening academia-industry collaboration, and accelerating the development of a world-class AI and robotics ecosystem. Indus RAS Expo 2026 has been organized in collaboration with the National Centre of Robotics & Automation (NCRA) and the NUST College of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering (E&ME) and will be open to visitors on both days. Participants can register and find more information through the official website: https://indusrasexpo.gov.pk/.