In pictures: Defence expo IDEAS kicks off in Karachi

Dawn.com Published November 23, 2016

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif along with Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif being briefed about displayed stuff during IDEAS-2016. —APP

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurating the 9th International Defence Exhibition IDEAS-2016. —APP

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif cutting the ribbon to inaugurate 9th International Defence Exhibition IDEAS-2016. —APP

PM Nawaz and the navy’s chief being briefed at the stall of Pakistan Navy during IDEAS 2016. –Navy PR

PM Nawaz Sharif is being briefed at PAF stall during inauguration ceremony of IDEAS-2016. —PPI

Director General of Munitions Production Major General Faiz Muhammad Khan Bangash is being briefed by Managing Director of Rohde and Schwarz in Pakistan Sameer Ahmad Siddiqui on modern equipment used to counter cyber crime attacks. —Online

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah seen at IDEAS 2016. —Online

A view of gridlock at SM Taufeeq Road in Liaquatabad due to IDEAS 2016 being held at Expo Centre in Karachi. —Online

A view of massive traffic jam at Shahrah-i-Faisal due to closing of roads near Expo Centre due to IDEAS-2016. —Online

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The 9th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) opened at the Karachi Expo Centre on Tuesday.

An opening speaker at the event said there are 418 firms from 34 countries participating, out of which 157 are Pakistani firms.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif jointly inaugurated the exhibition, which is set to run from Nov 22-25, alongside Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman.

Although Chinese and Turkish defence industries will have a significant presence, Russia is participating in the event this time in a big way.

The office of deputy inspector general police (traffic) had issued detailed instructions for the regulation of traffic during the exhibition. However, eyewitness reports on social media claim that University Road was shut to traffic under the Nipa bridge.

Massive traffic jams were reported on Shahrah-i-Faisal and the Liaquatabad Flyover to Jamshed Road.

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JSR

Nov 23, 2016 04:48am

Nice but let there be more science and business exhibitions it will develope the country

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Khwarezmi

Nov 23, 2016 05:13am

Please don't stop traffic from running. Our lives are hard enough as it is.

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daanish

Nov 23, 2016 05:36am

Make Pakistan great again Inshahallah.

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Iqbal

Nov 23, 2016 06:03am

Last two pictures are true representation of Pakistan

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Akhtar

Nov 23, 2016 06:49am

The real WINNER of this expo is the SSG Commondo, first pic top left, named Shaukat. The look in his eyes !!

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Agatha christie

Nov 23, 2016 06:56am

Congrats to PM,COAS,Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah for such a great exibition. There is a great scope in Defence Production and Pakistan can do more like guided laser arms and equipment, and introduce latest inventions in electronic and laser technology.

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Nitin

Nov 23, 2016 07:04am

Good idea

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jayyed

Nov 23, 2016 07:08am

Great Defence exhibition. Participation from 43 countries including USA and Europe. Congrats to Pakistanis. And so much for isolating Pakistan.

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Alba

Nov 23, 2016 07:12am

That's all Pakistan needs. More defense spending.

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Iqbal rangoonwala

Nov 23, 2016 08:30am

What the fun in giving hard time to general public in traffic for last 70 years corrupt and corruption has done nothing for masses

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KARACHITE

Nov 23, 2016 08:54am

Why select one of the most densely populated area of Karachi for this exhibition? It is being done repeatedly year after year in spite of the fact the city gets clogged every year due to security concerns of the invitees. It seems that we don't learn from our mistakes but repeat the same mistake which has even worst effect then the last time.

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Mustafa

Nov 23, 2016 09:29am

Good but dont ruin life of millions of common people live in cities. This exhibitions block the main roads towards the largest hospitals of the city.

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Pakistani.

Nov 23, 2016 09:42am

Misery for the 20 million plus citizens of Karachi, patients cannot reach hospitals, students cannot reach colleges and schools, office goers cannot reach offices, all city in a grid lock. Expo center is right in the middle of the city, if you close it down, you closes almost all the city... I am hundred percent sure the losses incurred by the city due to traffic jams, burning of fuel due to clogged traffic, less turn out in offices and factories is much more than the money earned from the IDEAS exhibition. A bad IDEA to start with...

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khanm

Nov 23, 2016 10:16am

Defence expo... IDEAS kicks off in Karachi... wonder where do these ideas flourished..What does it do for a common man..anything that is not reflected in the society we live in ...is useless.. the real strength of any country is not only the hard ware but the program that runs it and people are the program we side lines.. Ideas are easy. It's the execution of ideas that really separates the sheep from the goats

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Abcd

Nov 23, 2016 10:49am

Great to see army chief giving grace and respect to elected prime minister

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Masood Hussain

Nov 23, 2016 10:51am

Holding such a high security exhibition right in the middle of megalopolis Karachi must be logistically taxing for the organizers, not to mention the fact that it results in a nightmare for the common man whose life is already made miserable thanks to incompetent and corrupt leaders of the country. IDEAS will be great only if the authorities consider organizing it outside the city limits where there is ample space available for such a great show.

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selva

Nov 23, 2016 10:51am

@jayyed : Foreign countries came there to sell their weapons. Not to improve your economy. Got it.

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SAEED MASOOD

Nov 23, 2016 10:53am

Making Pakistan very very strong Militarily and Economically is the only solution to our problems.

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University Road - The accursed AVENUE of Karachi

Nov 23, 2016 11:04am

@Pakistani. 100% agree with you. What an apt comment on the situation of this city. Government of Pakistan should either shift expo -facilities outside the city or to other parts of country where such situation is not likely to occur. One more point I would like to add here is the behavior of law enforcement agencies especially security escort vehicles. Despite traffic jams they intimidate people on the road through hooters and threatening gestures to clear the road for them and the VIPs they are escorting. This kind of behavior is like adding insult to the injury to the commuters of this city. I hope some saner element in government will think about it discipline the bullying of escort vehicle rampaging on the roads.

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ABH

Nov 23, 2016 11:12am

Right on dude.

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Mozaffar Ahmad

Nov 23, 2016 11:17am

We should be proud of holding such a great international event in the city of Karachi. Not only it reflects the efforts Pakistan is making in achieving self sufficiency in the defence production but also exchanging valuable ideas with so many other countries of the world. Citizens of Karachi should rather see the bright side of it than complaining about traffic jams which is caused more due to the indiscipline of the motorists.

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N.S Karachi

Nov 23, 2016 11:59am

Whose IDEA was it anyway!! to hold an arms exhibition, a high security affair with foreign delegates, VIP's at the EXPO center, Karachi, they should have some semblance of sanity that EXPO center is in the middle of the city and surrounded by hospitals, colleges, and all traffic from district central to from western Karachi passes through it. All roads clogged and nowhere to go, patients, students, office goers all in the midst of the muddle. Not against holding of the exhibition in the city, should have been held at the periphery of the city and at cantonment areas, or preferably around Karachi port, keeping in mind the shipped imported ammo's to be displayed. As this is not a public exhibition, no point in holding it at a public place at the cost of the general public.

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sam

Nov 23, 2016 12:27pm

@selva Yes just like the west is selling all its junk to India.

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Furqan Hameed

Nov 23, 2016 12:39pm

Nice defense weapons but Pakistan should try to improve health and education sector.

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Mozaffar Ahmad

Nov 23, 2016 01:39pm

Citizens of Karachi should realise the over all improvement of law and order in the city during the last 2 years. Though not completely but relatively, the citizens have been feeling more secure than before. People, particularly the educated should learn practicing more patience and stop crying about one thing or the other. Traffic jams in many mega cities is a common feature. I have seen long traffic blocks on motor ways in the UK but never found the waiting motorists crying and complaining. Surprisingly, Karachi has much wider roads than cities like London, Amsterdam and some other European cities but traffic though may be slow but keep moving. It is the indiscipline and impatience of some motorist which causes road clogging here. Besides, heavens will not fall; this event will be over after only two days. Why have we forgotten so quickly, the much worse condition of uncertainty loomed over the city during the yester months and years?

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Pakistani

Nov 23, 2016 02:36pm

may i humbly request the Government to hold these expos outside the metropolis such as somewhere on super/national highway with dedicated facilities for holding these events. We are already too burdened for taking more of daily traffic nuisance. Its not a request but a plight of a worried citizen!

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faisal baloch

Nov 23, 2016 04:59pm

what an idea.. 70 to 90 percent to weapon and 4 to 2 percent on education and health...

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Fahad Faisal

Nov 23, 2016 07:31pm

@jayyed Great exhibition? Seriously? Exhibition of pictures of people...and nothing more.

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aslam shaikh1

Nov 24, 2016 03:34pm

Very good exhibition for Pakistan. Please make a new venue for the exhibition so security can be easily provided without minimal disruption to the city.

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asad

Nov 24, 2016 05:36pm

Moving IDEAS defense expo is to GWADAR would be a fantastic idea. Army should built a exhibition center of the beautiful beach, it will solve traffic problems and also give sense of presence to our enemies.

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