KARACHI: The 12th edition of the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2024) began with a grand inauguration at the Karachi Expo Centre on Tuesday. Federal Minister for Defence Production Khawaja Muhammad Asif presided over the ceremony, highlighting Pakistan’s commitment to international peace and security.
This year’s IDEAS exhibition set new benchmarks with full capacity bookings at the venue. Over 560 exhibitors from 41 countries, including Turkey, China, Iran, the UK, and North and South America, are showcasing cutting-edge defence equipment. More than 350 high-level delegations from 55 countries are attending the event.
In his address, Khawaja Asif emphasized Pakistan’s potential as a hub for defence collaboration, joint ventures, and technology integration. He underscored the growing competitiveness of Pakistan’s defence products in international markets and stressed the need for academia-industry partnerships to further advance the sector.
IDEAS, organized biennially by the Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) since 2000, has evolved into a global platform for defence manufacturers, entrepreneurs, R&D specialists, and policymakers to explore cooperation and knowledge sharing.
Major General Asad Nawaz Khan, DG DEPO, welcomed international and domestic participants, praising the presence of startups and academic institutions such as NUST and NASTP, which foster innovation and entrepreneurial growth.
The exhibition, a cornerstone for regional defence collaboration and technology exchange, will continue until Friday.
