IDEAS 2024, the 12th edition of the defence exhibition and seminar, officially commenced on Tuesday at the Expo Centre in Karachi.
At the opening ceremony of IDEAS, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stressed the need for public-private partnerships to increase the output and efficiency of defence exports.
He boasted that Pakistan presents vast prospects for lucrative commerce, joint ventures, and investments across all industries, including defence.
Pakistani defence items are making waves on the global market, according to the minister. He also stated that, while we sell some high-tech defence products to over 60 nations, the amount of exports does not match its full potential.
According to Khawaja Asif, the 12th IDEAS will be an important event in the growth of Pakistan’s military sector because it will bring together start-ups, top engineering and tech institutions in Pakistan, and international defence specialists and manufacturers.
In order to facilitate communication between the public and private sectors, as well as between academia and business, Khawaja Asif announced that the IDEAS platform is launching a defence ecosystem.
In order to attract investments in human capital and industry experts, he reaffirmed the government’s intention to maintain a business-friendly climate.
The Defence Minister, speaking on the geostrategic environment, stated that in order to tackle the multiple problems presented by today’s security environment, there needs to be increased cooperation and collaboration at both regional and extra-regional levels.
To address geo-strategic concerns and create a safer and better society, he advocated for the ethical use of contemporary technology. Khawaja Asif stated that Pakistan, as a responsible state, has consistently pledged to contribute to the maintenance of world peace, stability, and order. He emphasized that international norms, mutual interest, and reciprocity form the basis of Pakistan’s bilateral and multilateral partnerships.
The Minister stressed the need for regional cooperation and involvement in order to attain regional security, socioeconomic development, and peace in relation to the geostrategic shifts taking place in South Asia.
He stated that Pakistan is committed to resolving bilateral disputes and promoting peace and harmony in the region via constructive conversation based on equality. According to Khawaja Asif, Pakistan is fully committed to working with its partners to ensure global peace and stability.
The IDEAS 2024 is a platform for displaying a diverse array of defence equipment, weapon systems, and vehicles, both contemporary and historic. A large number of international defence professionals are planning to attend the IDEAS 2024 trade expo. The Special Investment Facilitation Council has made exports and defence production a top priority.
