International defense exhibition starts in Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – A four-day multi-national arms exhibition kicked off Tuesday in Pakistan’s commercial capital Karachi, with Türkiye being the biggest participant.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2024), a mega event biennially organized in Pakistan, amid heightened security.

IDEAS 2024, which marks the 12th edition of the exhibition, is hosting exhibitors and delegates from 55 countries, including the US, Russia, China, Iran, Italy, the UK and Azerbaijan.

Some 560 defense manufacturers, 333 of them international, are showcasing their defense and military products.

Iran and Italy are participating in the arms fair for the first time.

Pakistan is primarily showcasing its domestically produced Haider Main Battle Tank (MBT) and new medium-altitude long-endurance Shahpar III drone, aside from Al-Khalid and Al-Zarrar tanks and the latest model of the Super Mushshak Aircraft.

Developed through a collaboration between Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) of Pakistan and the Chinese state company NORINCO, the Haider tank was unveiled in March this year.

An International Seminar on Pakistan Defense Production Potential – Challenges, Opportunities, and Way Forward will also be held on day three of the exhibition. Renowned national and international experts will present their scholarly papers on the topic, said a statement.

One of the new additions is the startups pavilion established by the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan Navy Maritime Science and Technology Park and National Aerospace and Technology Park in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the defense sector, with a view to give international exposure to the country’s young entrepreneurs.

Türkiye this year has the largest participation in the fair, followed by China, according to the organizers.