KARACHI: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, after inaugurating the 9th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar IDEAS-2016 at Karachi Expo Centre on Tuesday morning, took detailed round of eight expo halls where 480 companies, including local ones, showcased their defence products.
Fiftyfive countries, including China, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States, are participating in the event.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Defence Khwaja Muhammad Asif, Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Shareef, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zakaullah and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman.
Besides diplomates from various countries, a large number of foreign exhibitors/delegates, representatives of local companies engaged in defence production and officials of three armed forces were also present.
The Prime Minister appreciated active participation by such a large number of foreign companies in the IDEAS exhibition. He was briefed about the new editions of defence production-- local and foreign. He had interaction with many exhibitors, especially the foreign ones.
At the stall of Ukraine Defence Ministry, he was welcomed by Ukraine Defence Minister and Army Chief General Stepan Poltorak along with with Ukraine's Ambassador to Pakistan Voldymyr Lakomov, Ukraine's Consul General in Karachi Engr M A Jabbar and Second Secretary at Embassy of Ukraine Taras Mykytenko.
Before leaving the venue, the Prime Minister also witnessed the ceremony wherein memoranda of understanding were signed among different companies.
The Ukrainian Minister for Defence Production while talking to the state-run media after the Prime Minister's visit, said his ministry was actively participating in the IDEAS-2016 exhibition.
The defence ministries of Pakistan and Ukraine had already forged deep cooperation and his visit to the IDEAS would further strengthen it, he added.
He expected sigining of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries, which would be beneficial for them. He said Ukraine's Ministry of Defence Industry was participating and had displayed its various defence innovations. The IDEAS-2016 exhibition would bring wonderful results, he said. " This is my first visit to Pakistan," he said.
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