NEWS DESK
KARACHI: The 11th edition of the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2022) formally kicked off at the Karachi Expo Centre on Tuesday.
The international expo will continue till November 18.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed the inaugural ceremony of the event being attended by a large number of civil and military delegations and trade visitors from across the world.
The four-day exhibition organized by the Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) is showcasing defence equipment from 64 countries – many of which will be participating in the event for the first time.
IDEAS 2022 will include multiple shows and events which will be held at different venues in Karachi, with an airshow being organized on November 17.
A traffic plan has been issued for the international exhibition and only vehicles with permits will be allowed to enter the expo centre.
The exhibition is significantly being commemorated through enhanced participation of Pakistan Armed Forces, national and international defence industries, OEMs, entrepreneurs, and high-level national and international defence delegations. The new features are aimed to make IDEAS an effective platform for defence Buyers and Sellers.
Apart from government and private organisations of Pakistan that manufacture defence equipment, companies from Turkey, China, America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Far East have also set up stalls in the exhibition at the Expo Center of Karachi.
Around 60 per cent of foreign companies and 40 per cent of domestic institutions and companies are taking part in the defence exhibition.
In conjunction with IDEAS 2022, Pakistan Post has also released a commemorative ticket worth Rs 20.
Addressing the inaugural session, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that it was an honor for him to address the International Defense Exhibition Ideas 2022.
“I welcome the foreign guests participating in the event. It is noteworthy that Pakistan has played a role in peace and will continue to do so,” he said.
He said that “we are working together to get the country out of economic challenges, the coalition government is facing many challenges. Pakistan is out of danger of default. There should always be stability in the economic policy of the country.”
The 11th edition of IDEAS is taking place after a gap of four years with the last one held in 2018.
