Strict security protocols have been enforced in Karachi as the city prepares to host the 12th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS-2024) at the Expo Centre from November 19 to 22, 2024. Measures include a week-long ban on protests and rallies under Section 144, effective from November 18 to 24, as announced by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi in response to a request from the Additional Inspector General of Police for Karachi.
An official notification prohibits public gatherings of more than five people during this period. Similar restrictions are in place in Islamabad, as detailed in a separate notification issued by the Additional Deputy Commissioner.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will inaugurate the exhibition today. Organized by the Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO) under the Ministry of Defence and Defence Production, the event aims to highlight Pakistan’s defence industry on a global stage.
True to its legacy, IDEAS-2024 will feature advanced defence technology demonstrations, an international seminar, the IDEAS Tri-Services Karachi Show, and opportunities for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) networking.
This year’s exhibition will host global defence industries showcasing state-of-the-art technologies, alongside Pakistan’s public and private defence sectors, which will present products of international standards.
A key highlight of IDEAS-2024 is the newly introduced Startups Pavilion, developed in partnership with the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), the Pakistan Navy Maritime Science and Technology Park (PNMSTP), and the National Aerospace and Technology Park (NASTP). This initiative focuses on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and defence innovation, providing young entrepreneurs with an international platform to showcase groundbreaking projects.
Senior civil and military delegations, along with a large number of trade visitors, are expected to attend the event. The previous IDEAS exhibition attracted 350 delegates from 57 countries, including high-level officials such as defence ministers, secretaries, and military leaders.
