As part of security precautions, gatherings were prohibited throughout Karachi Division as the 12th edition of the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2024 got underway Tuesday at the Expo Centre in Karachi.
The Associated Press of Pakistan reports that about 350 high-level delegations are attending the four-day event from 55 nations, including the US, Russia, China, Turkey, Iran, Italy, the UK, and Azerbaijan.
The largest participants will be China and Turkey, with some 560 defense manufacturers—333 of them are foreign—showcasing their military and defense goods.
For the first time, Italy and Iran are attending the arms show.
The Defense Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) in Pakistan hosts the show every two years, and it will run until Friday, November 22.
In addition to the Al-Khalid and Al-Zarrar tanks and the most recent model of the Super Mushshak Aircraft, Pakistan is mainly displaying its domestically built Haider Main Battle Tank (MBT) and new medium-altitude long-endurance Shahpar III drone.
The Chinese state corporation Norinco and Pakistan’s Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) collaborated to develop the Haider tank, which was presented in March of this year.
The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan Navy Maritime Science and Technology (PMSTAP), and Park and National Aerospace and Technology Park (NASTP) have built a startup pavilion specializing in artificial intelligence and defense, which will be one of the new additions.
According to the organizers, Turkey has the most exhibitors and delegations at the event, with over 75 of them, followed by China. In 2022, the show featured advancements from 28 Turkish defense industries.
Renowned national and international specialists will give their research papers on the subject at a seminar titled “Pakistan Defence Production Potential—Challenges, Opportunities, and Way Forward” on Thursday.
Pakistan’s defense products are in competition worldwide. Asif
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif opened the event by pointing out that Pakistan’s defense sector has now attained a level of quality and dependability where its goods can compete in the global defense market.
According to him, IDEAS acted as a regional entry point for foreign suppliers and manufacturers looking to investigate new defense cooperation opportunities through outsourcing, joint ventures, and partnerships.
Asif emphasized how important technology is in addressing today’s security issues and how, when used responsibly, it can improve and secure the globe.
He was reported by APP as adding, “As a responsible state, Pakistan is always committed to playing its role for international peace, stability, and order.”
“At our end, we, in collaboration with our partners, are steadfast to this unflinching commitment for peace and stability in the world,” the minister said.
According to him, Pakistan has the potential to become a global hub for defense research, technological advancement, production, joint ventures, and exports.
Karachi division prohibits gatherings until November 24.
In addition, because of the ongoing defense expo, the local government has banned “all forms of public gatherings” in Karachi Division until November 24.
Public gatherings are likely to “pose a grave security risk and cause inconvenience to international guests expected to participate in IDEAS 2024,” according to a notification from the Karachi division commissioner’s office dated November 18 and accessible through Dawn.com, which quotes Additional Inspector General Javed Akhtar Odho.
Therefore, for seven days starting on Monday, Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi issued an order prohibiting “any type of protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies, and assemblies of more than five persons” within the boundaries of Karachi Division.
Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which gives district administrations the authority to prohibit an activity for a predetermined amount of time, has been used to enforce the restriction.
According to the notification, “there are sufficient grounds to proceed under Section 144 CrPC to prohibit gatherings in order to maintain law and order situation within Karachi Division to prevent any untoward incident,” hence the situation “requires immediate action.”
According to the notification, in the event that the ban was broken, station house officers had the authority to file cases at the relevant police stations.
All private schools located on or near Sharea Faisal and Habib Ibrahim Rahmatullah Road will be closed for four days beginning today (Tuesday), according to a statement released by the Sindh government.
A government notice stated that during this time, these highways will be used regularly for the transportation of dignitaries to Expo Center.
The last time Section 144 was enforced throughout Karachi Division was in October, just before separate marches that were announced by civil society and a religious-political party.
Ten police officers were eventually suspended for mistreating the activists during the October 13 fight between police and demonstrators outside the Karachi Press Club. A few days later, more than 20 PTI leaders and employees were taken into custody for holding a rally in Saddar’s Empress Market in violation of Section 144.
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