Yasin, who did his robotics PhD in Beijing and now teaches at the National University of Technology in Islamabad, said cooperation should begin with local assembly and integration and move towards making the critical parts in Pakistan, with Pakistani engineers trained alongside Chinese one.
A Pakistani robotics company has called for stronger cooperation with Chinese partners through joint laboratories, technology partnerships and joint ventures to help establish domestic manufacturing of industrial robots in Pakistan.
Robionix Technologies, founded by robotics expert Dr Awais Yasin, is already developing practical automation solutions for the country’s industrial sector.
The company has developed an AI-powered inspection system capable of checking finished garments against buyers’ orders, helping textile manufacturers identify quality issues before products reach customers.
The inspection system is currently being used at textile factories in Karachi, Faisalabad and Sialkot. In one recent installation, only three major components were imported: the camera, touchscreen and its mounting system.
The remaining components, along with assembly and integration, were completed in Pakistan, demonstrating the potential for greater local manufacturing.
However, developing a fully locally manufactured industrial robot remains a much larger challenge. According to Yasin, Pakistan currently lacks domestic suppliers capable of producing the high-precision motors, gears and drives required for advanced robotic systems. This shortage of supporting components makes the development of a completely local six-axis industrial robot difficult.
Yasin argues that the biggest obstacle is not the robot itself but the wider industrial ecosystem required to manufacture one. Building local expertise in precision components, electronics, motion-control systems and other critical technologies will be essential for Pakistan to move beyond assembling imported equipment.
Having completed his PhD in robotics in Beijing and now teaching at the National University of Technology in Islamabad, Yasin believes cooperation with Chinese companies and institutions could provide a practical path forward.
He has proposed beginning with local assembly and system integration before gradually shifting towards manufacturing critical robotic components inside Pakistan.
The approach could also involve Pakistani engineers working and training alongside Chinese specialists, allowing technical knowledge and expertise to be transferred locally.
Such partnerships could help Pakistan develop a stronger robotics ecosystem, reduce dependence on imported components and eventually create the capabilities needed to manufacture industrial robots domestically.
