Arms exhibition to be held after four-year gap

KARACHI:

Pakistan is gathering the world, including its super powers, on one platform to display their innovations and advancement in "arms for peace" at the 11th edition of International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2022) next week.

"The US and Russia both are among the exhibitors this year too," IDEAS 2022 Coordination Director Brigadier Naveed Azam Cheema said while replying to a question at a curtain-raiser news conference on Saturday.

He was speaking in the context of the increasing tensions between Washington and Moscow in recent times.

Besides, three European countries -- Austria, Romania and Hungry – are participating for the first time at the defence exhibition this year.

“[This] shows how successful the exhibition has remained in the past,” Cheema added.

The country is organising the four-day event from November 15 to 18 at the Karachi Expo Centre after a gap of four years.

The bi-annual event was not arranged in 2020 in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The first edition of IDEAS was held in 2000.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to inaugurate the show on November 15.

Turkiye (formerly known as Turkey) would stand out as the single largest exhibitor, as its manufacturers of defence technology have been provided two of the total six halls at Karachi Expo Centre.

China has been given a full hall to showcase its technology. The UAE would also be among prominent exhibitors at IDEAS 2022.

To accommodate the growing number of exhibitors, Pakistan has set up two additional marquees at the Karachi Expo Centre this year.

More importantly, Pakistan’s private defence industry is overwhelmingly participating in the exhibition to showcase their new innovations.

Experts will highlight the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in defence technology at the four-day event.

A large number of exhibitors from across the globe will display advanced models of drones, submarines, missiles, fighter jets, tanks and arms.

IDEAS 2022 Media Director Commodore Mohammad Tahir SI(M) said the bi-annual event reflected that Pakistan had the strength to gather the world on one platform as well as the other countries’ confidence in it.

"IDEAS shows the world that Pakistan is a modern, progressive, peace-promoting and stable country,” he added.

The event’s media director said the growing number of foreign and local exhibitors; delegates; and participants elaborated the success story of the international exhibition.

“IDEAS has played a critical role in increasing the export of defence equipment from Pakistan over the recent years,” he added.

So far, 522 exhibitors from 51 countries have confirmed to display their products at the event.

They include 323 foreign exhibitors and 199 local ones.

Besides, 285 delegates from 64 countries have also confirmed their participation.

The exhibition also features a show of defence demonstration for citizens of Karachi at Nishan-e-Pakistan, Sea View on November 17.

To mark the 11th edition of IDEAS, the postal services ministry has issued a commemorative stamp of Rs20.

Speaking on the occasion, Traffic DIGP Ahmed Nawaz Cheema briefed the media about the alternate routes to facilitate the commuters of Karachi during rush hours.

The Karachi Expo Centre has been booked to its full capacity with exhibitors from Turkey, China, North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Far East.