Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army chief General Raheel Sharif arrived in Karachi on Tuesday to inaugurate IDEAS 2016, a four-day defence exhibition showcasing the country’s indigenously built military hardware, including fighter aircraft, tanks, missiles, drones, APCs and firearms.
The premier was accompanied by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Naval Chief Admiral Zakaullah and NSA Nasir Janjua.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, PM Nawaz said, “Pakistan is against any sort of arms race in the region,” adding that IDEAS too, goes with the tagline “Arms for peace.” Following his address, the premier along with Gen Raheel, chief of naval staff and air chief marshal, formally inaugurated IDEAS 2016.“Our government is focused on turning around the economy,” PM Nawaz said, adding that Pakistan’s economy is back on upward growth and the GDP is likely to grow “well over five per cent in 2016-2017.”
The International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2016 has drawn delegates from around the world.
PM Nawaz with Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain. AN EXPRESS NEWS SCREENGRAB
Some 418 firms from 34 countries are exhibiting their products, of which, 261 are foreign Moreover, 90 delegations are representing 43 countries. Thirty of them are headed by defence ministers, secretaries, chiefs of defence staff or services chiefs of respective countries.
Pakistan would showcase main battle tank Al Khalid, JF-17 Thunder, Super Mushshak, K-8 aircraft, Fast Attack Craft Missile boats, armoured personnel carriers, premium grade military hardware and related technology, Commodore Javed said.
AN EXPRESS NEWS SCREENGRAB
Chinese and Turkish exhibitors have been allotted separate pavilions to showcase their defence equipment.
The number of Russian exhibitors has also increased to three this year from only one during the last exhibition. Russian state-controlled arms’ import and export firm, Russia Rosoboronexport, is among them.
Some 14 memoranda of understandings to promote defence exports and enter into joint venture with foreign delegates and exhibitors are expected to be signed.
Comdr Javed added nine countries — Luxembourg, Denmark, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, Nigeria, and Romania — are participating in IDEAS for the first time.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the ninth International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2016 being held at Expo Centre in Karachi from Tuesday. Addressing the inauguration ceremony at IDEAS 2016, the Prime Minister said he is pleased to be attending the exhibition and welcomed the foreign delegations attending the expo.
The Prime Minister said the countrys defence products are of advanced quality and lauded the efforts of the Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) in strengthening public-private partnership in defence production. He said the country today presents vast opportunities for foreign investment, joint agreements and trade. The government is determined to further strengthen the economy, he added.
The Prime Minister also said Pakistan, in fact, pursues the motto of arms for peace, which has always been the tagline of IDEAS.
He said over two thousand weapons system and equipment on display in the exhibition also reflect broad-based participation of Pakistan's public and private sector in defence production and export, supported by research and development. He said IDEAS-2016 demonstrates results of collaboration of local and foreign technologies. These efforts have resulted in achieving self-reliance in defence production and opening up for exports.
The Prime Minister also assured defence products of Pakistan are state of the art and stand fully tested by our own armed forces. Our defence products have made their mark in many countries of the world. He, however, said there are many opportunities for further growth and exploration of new markets.
The military exhibition is being organized by Defense Export and Promotion Organization under theme of Arms for Peace. A total of 418 companies from 34 countries including 157 Pakistani firms are showcasing their products in this mega defence event.
90 delegates from forty three countries are participating in the event. The IDEAS-2016 team will welcome you at Karachi Expo Centre for the 9th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) event from 22 to 25 November 2016.
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