ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee on Defence Production of Pakistan’s National Assembly has been informed that the Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) has so far handed over 570 state-of-the-art tanks to the army.

Briefing the committee members headed by Sheikh Aftab Ahmed during their visit to the HIT, Chairman Lt General Ayyaz Rana said the HIT will hand over 30 more tanks to the army by middle of this year.

The HIT chairman said with the handing over of the 30 tanks, the project of manufacturing 600 Al-Khalid and Al-Zarrar battle tanks for the army will be completed.

In addition to the manufacturing of tanks, the HIT also manufactures armoured personnel carriers, security vehicles and other defence-related equipment besides planning to start building dozers, prime movers and dumpers, he added. Rana said the HIT has also indigenously fabricated bulletproof car and jeep for supply to various government departments. He said the bulletproof car will cost less as compared to the international market. “The cost of the indigenously developed body is six to eight times lesser than those available in the international market,” he said.

A prototype of the bulletproof car was also put on display which attracted the attention of the committee. Aftab said the HIT has been making highly valuable contribution in augmenting the country’s defence. He said the committee will help the organisation in overcoming hurdles in export of its defence equipment. He said that recommendations in this regard would soon be submitted to the government.