ISLAMABAD: 7th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2012) for displaying military hardware was launched at Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) here on Friday.
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani formally inaugurated the exhibition aimed at providing an opportunity to exhibitors to give spectators and buyers a detailed view of the operational capabilities of their vehicles, equipment and machinery.
Federal Minister for Defence, Ch. Ahmad Mukhtar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Khalid Shahmeem Waynne, Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, diplomats and senior military and civil officials were present.
Welcoming the distinguished guests, Director General, Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO), Maj. General, Tahir Ashraf Khan said that first defence exhibition was held in year 2000 in Karachi and the IDEAS-2008 attracted representations from 59 countries including the exhibitors, defence delegates and trade visitors.
He said 256 leading defence manufacturers including 162 foreign and 94 domestic companies participated while more than 24,000 defence professionals, analysts, service personnel and trade visitors attended the exhibition.
Tahir Ashraf Khan said that IDEAS-2010 was canceled due to unprecedented and devastated floods in the country.
Terming the exhibition bigger in size and stature, he informed that 60 percent of space allocated for IDEAS-2012 has already been booked.
Turkey, China, Germany and France have booked larger spaces to display their defence equipments, he added.
He said IDEAS has emerged with prominence on the map of global defence exhibitions as it is an established rendezvous for convergence of international defence exhibitors, delegations, security analysts and top policy planners where defence and security of the future takes shape through series of different conferences and a well attended seminar.
It provides a platform to showcase technology of tomorrow and innovations in defence with more than 2000 weapons systems and items of equipment on display, he added.
He said the exhibition exemplifies a successful public and private sector partnership and has grown in its reach, participation and international attendance to a level that is second to none in the region.
In addition, the profile of the high level delegations visiting Pakistan to attend this exhibition adds to the prestige and stature of this event.
Regional and cultural heritage display on stage with background video clips was also presented at the seminar.
A group of dancers and folk musicians of PNCA enthralled the audience with their performance.
'Jaltarang', 'Alghoza' and 'Rubab' played by folk musicians and dancing performance over Nusrat Fateh Ali's mystic song was highly appreciated.
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