IDEAS-2012 all set to commence from today

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI:: Amidst tight security arrangements, the 7th of the biennially conducted International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) is all set to commence from Wednesday (today) at the Karachi Expo Center.

Pakistan hopes for more shares in the international market for its defence production through the international event being attended by buyers, delegates from over 50 countries.

“Despite the fact that the Exhibition is being held after a gap of four years, we have received an overwhelming response from the Exhibitors as well as delegations from around the globe,” said Commodore Siddiq Akbar, Director (Media) of Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO), Ministry of Defence Production.

He was briefing a group of media personnel on Monday at the curtain raiser of IDEAS 2012 at the Expo Center, Karachi. Brigadier Mazhar, Director Coordination, DEPO and Zulfiqar Ali Mahar, SSP Traffic Central, were also present on the occasion.

The Exhibition will be open for the officially invited delegations comprising senior officials of foreign countries and trade visitors from abroad and inland. Last Day of the exhibition will be reserved for the students of colleges and universities, he added. Holding of IDEAS-2012 is a proud moment for all of us and is a clear manifestation of the fact that Pakistan does not lack behind in quality defence production.

The Commodore added that a positive response has been received from the invited foreign defence delegations. Around 80 delegations would represent different countries from around the globe, of which around 24 delegations are high-level, headed either by the defence ministers, secretaries or service chiefs of the respective countries. In addition to this, 209 firms will exhibit their products, of which, 135 are foreign and 74 Pakistani firms.

“We have booked a major portion of the available Expo Center to accommodate the defence companies China, North America, South America, Europe, Asia,” he added. Director (Media), DEPO further said that the major indigenously developed products to be exhibited at IDEAS-2012 include Main Battle Tank Al-Khalid, Fighter Aircraft, Jet Trainer Aircraft and UAVs etc.

Meanwhile, he stated, that during IDEAS-2012, there will be over hundreds of high level meetings planned on the sidelines of the exhibition between foreign delegates, key government officials, and participants of the exhibition for forging alliances in defence production.

International Defence Seminar is another important facet of IDEAS, which will be held in a five Star Hotel in the evening of November 7. From this time around, another intellectual forum has been introduced in the shape of Side Line Conferences. These Conferences will be held at the venue of IDEAS on November 8. During these conferences, the challenges being faced by the Armed Forces of Pakistan in particular, and international forces in general, will be highlighted.

We have made special arrangements to facilitate coverage of the event by local and international media as the media’s role in the present era cannot be undermined’, he added.

He also thanked the media for covering the event as IDEAS-2012 is of great significance and almost every region of the world has representation in it. He also added that the the significant presence of the international media reflects the importance of IDEAS-2012. The media will play a key role in promoting the potential of Pakistan’s Defence Industry internationally. On the occasion, Zulfiqar Ali Mahar, the SSP Traffic Central also briefed the media about the Traffic Plan and alternate arrangements for traffic, in order to facilitate the public during the rush hours of IDEAS-2012. He said, a traffic re-routing plan will be put in place around the Expo Center for the knowledge of citizens about the traffic arrangements and use of alternate routes during the event.