The current edition of the International Defense Exhibition and Seminar IDEAS 2024 opened its doors today at the Karachi Expo Center, demonstrating how far Pakistan has come with respect to defense technology.
The 12th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2024 has opened in the Karachi Expo Centre to exhibition of Pakistan’s achievements in defense technologies advances. Organized by the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO), the four-day event will run from 19 to 22 November. The Defense Minister Khawaja Asif was the chief guest at the opening of the exhibition. Another attraction is the Shahpar-III drone—a new generation unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) made in Pakistan.
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The endurance of Shahpar-III is 30th hours aloft, and able to carry a maximum payload of 1650 KG over distances. It is fitted with modern avionics and an advanced flight control system, all of which are locally designed and manufactured components. The drone is the outcome of several years of hard work by Global Industrial and Defence Solutions (GIDS), the leading defense production firm in Pakistan. In connection with the achievement, GIDS’s Chief Executive Officer Asad Kamal noted:
‘This is Shahpar-III, the maximum milestone developed after 30 years of hard work, reflecting the vision to enhance the defense of the federation of Pakistan.’
IDEAS 2024 has gained worldwide fame with 17 new countries, including Iran, Italy, and the UK, and over 55 other nations displaying advanced military technologies. This year’s event also comprises a dedicated start-up galley working towards new defense-centered ideas. The exhibition promotes the growing narrative of indigenization by showcasing the defense technologies developed in Pakistan. It also provides an avenue for strengthening international ties. A total of 224 local and 333 international companies presented their products, hence accentuating the country’s position in the armed forces industry.
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Conclusion: The 12th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2024 reaffirms the growing trends of defense technology self-sustainability among Pakistani companies and offers an opportunity to build and develop global partnerships. The conference brought together 224 local and 333 foreign companies showing their productions, emphasizing the importance of this country on the map of the global military market.