Robionix Technologies has called for deeper cooperation between Pakistan and China in robotics manufacturing, proposing joint laboratories, localisation focused joint ventures and long term engineering training to address gaps in Pakistan’s industrial robotics ecosystem. The company believes collaboration with Chinese manufacturers could help Pakistan move beyond importing finished automation equipment and gradually develop local capabilities in precision component manufacturing.
Awais Yasin, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Robionix Technologies, said Pakistan already has the capability to design and manufacture several major elements required for automation equipment, including structural components, electronics, control software and vision systems. However, the country continues to face limitations in producing the precision components required for advanced industrial robots at the necessary scale. Speaking in a written interview with China Economic Net, Yasin highlighted the potential for cooperation with Chinese companies that already have established manufacturing capabilities in areas such as motors, controllers and precision reducers. He said this collaboration could begin with local integration and manufacturing before gradually moving toward domestic production of critical components. Under such a model, Pakistani engineers could work and train alongside Chinese counterparts while local manufacturers develop the expertise required to produce increasingly sophisticated robotics equipment.
Robionix has already developed technology for industrial automation through its flagship MagicQC system, an artificial intelligence based garment inspection solution designed for Pakistan’s textile industry. The system places a finished garment on a measurement bed, uses a camera to identify measurement points and determines whether the garment meets specifications provided by the buyer. The company has installed MagicQC systems at factories in Karachi, Faisalabad and Sialkot, although commercial deployment remains limited. Yasin said a recent installation required only three major components from international suppliers, including an industrial camera, operator touchscreen and mounting assembly, while the measurement bed, lighting, display, computer, electrical components and integration work were completed locally. The example demonstrates the level of automation equipment that Pakistani companies can develop domestically, while also highlighting the areas where specialised imported components remain necessary.
Yasin said developing a fully indigenous six axis industrial robotic arm remains more difficult because robotic arms require high levels of accuracy, repeatability, speed and reliability. These capabilities depend on specialised components such as servo motors, precision encoders, harmonic or planetary gear reducers and servo drives, for which Pakistan currently lacks local suppliers capable of meeting the required precision and production scale. He argued that the larger challenge is not simply building the robot itself but creating the industrial ecosystem that supports its development, including research institutions, component manufacturers, technology companies and factories capable of deploying robotics at scale. His experience at the Beijing Institute of Technology, where he pursued a doctorate in robotics, gave him exposure to an ecosystem in which universities conducted research, companies developed robots, suppliers produced precision components and factories deployed the resulting systems. China installed around 295,000 industrial robots in 2024, representing 54% of global installations, while Pakistan has remained largely dependent on imported finished automation equipment. Robionix believes closer cooperation with Chinese companies could help address this gap by combining Pakistan’s engineering and integration capabilities with China’s established industrial supply chain and manufacturing base.
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