Use of Robots in Pakistani Industries Expected to Rise: Study

Pakistan’s manufacturing sector is gradually embracing robotics for industrial automation mainly to enhance efficiency, productivity, and profitability, according to a draft of the study “Robotics Industry Roundup” published by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB). According to the International Federation of Robotics, the density of industrial robots in Pakistan was approximately 2.5 robots per 10,000 employees in 2021, a figure that is expected to rise as industries seek to modernize operations. Major sectors such as textiles, automotive, and food processing are beginning to integrate robotic systems. For instance, companies like Khaadi and Nishat Mills are exploring robotic solutions to streamline their production lines, reducing labor costs and improving product quality. On the educational front, several universities in Pakistan have established dedicated robotics programs. The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore are at the forefront, offering specialized degrees and research opportunities in robotics and automation. A report by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan indicated that as of 2022, over 20 universities across the country had developed robotics and automation curricula. The Government of Pakistan has recently initiated many skill development programs offered freely to unemployed youth. The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) has managed to train an 85,000+ workforce in high-impact technologies like machine learning and robotics. Moreover, a host of edtech companies like LearnoBots, Robokids, and Edvon are tailoring robotics, coding, and AI training directly for children and teenagers. Events such as the Robocon. Pakistan’s competition encourages students to innovate and compete in robotics, fostering a culture of creativity and technical skill development. The focal point for robotics research in Pakistan is the National Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA) which is a government-funded consortium of 11 research labs situated in over 13 universities in Pakistan. Headquartered at the NUST College of E&ME, NCRA aims to use researchers, scientists, and experts to power a robotics revolution in Pakistan. NCRA labs actively publish research papers and spin-off startups in this space. NRCA also conducts a yearly Robotics Startup Challenge in partnership with UNICEF and Ignite Technology Fund centered around different themes. Another major event is the National Engineering and Robotics contest, which launched in 2003 and has now become one of the biggest robotics competitions in Pakistan, with over 150 participating teams every year. State of Robotics at Global Level The International Federation of Robotics estimates that there are some 4,281,585 industrial robot units operating in factories worldwide – an increase of 10 percent on the year before. Annual installations crossed the half-a-million units mark for the third year in a row. By region, 70 percent of all newly deployed robots were installed in Asia, 17 percent in Europe and 10 percent in the Americas. The growth patterns are very revealing, particularly the role of Asia: China is the world’s largest market, accounting for over 51 percent of global installations alone. Japan is the second largest market behind China. India also showed strong figures. In the US, robot installations actually fell by 5 percent, while Canada showed a 37 percent increase. Europe showed an overall increase, primarily in traditionally strong car manufacturing countries, such as Spain and Germany. The key driver for these trends has been the automotive industry and the patterns in several regions closely track automotive investment cycles. Moreover, automation allows manufacturers to situate production in developed economies without sacrificing cost efficiency. Demand for robotics and automation has soared. The global robotics market size reached USD 53.2 billion in 2024. Looking forward, the market is expected to reach USD 178.7 billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 16.35 percent during 2025-2033. Key market drivers are rapid technological advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, increasing labor shortages and escalating labor costs, growing demand for automation, significant expansion in applications, and friendly government initiatives and funding. PSEB directed experts and stakeholders of the robotics areas at a domestic level to incorporate valuable feedback in the roundup study and add information on the robotics work being done in Pakistan at different levels. The final roundup will be released later.