The 9th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) opened at the Karachi Expo Centre on Tuesday.
IDEAS is held every two year and brings together the defence industry’s players across the globe to showcase latest technological innovations.
The defence industries of Turkey, China, Russia, North America, South America, Europe and Asia will have a significant presence at the exhibition.
There are 418 firms from 34 countries participating, out of which 157 are Pakistani firms.
Luxembourg, Denmark, Belarus, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, Romania and Nigeria are the 9 countries visiting and participating in IDEAS
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif jointly inaugurated the exhibition, which is set to run from Nov 22-25, alongside Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah and Chief of the Air Staff is Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while addressing an open ceremony reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to discouraging an arms race in the region.
A statement posted on the IDEAS website explains why it is held in Pakistan: “Pakistan’s ever growing defence industry is in quest for seeking international alliances to meet the requirements of its armed forces and growing needs of the regional defence forces. Pakistan’s own defence products present a perfect mix of indigenous and foreign technologies thus offering an ideal platform for defence collaboration.”
About 90 delegations from 43 countries are expected to attend the exhibition and seminar, including 30 high-level teams comprising defence ministers, defence secretaries and services chiefs.
Some of the major indigenously developed products to be showcased at the event include battle tank Al-Khalid, JF-17 Thunder, Super Mushshak and K-8 aircraft, Fast Attack Craft Missile boats, UAVs, armoured personnel carriers and premium grade military hardware.
Besides showcasing of products, there will be several high-level meetings among foreign delegates, key government officials and participants on the sidelines of the four-day IDEAS for forging alliances in defence production.
