KARACHI, Nov 23: The lack-lustre international defence exhibition and seminar -- Ideas-2006 -- failed to generate the desired interest on the third day as the event was not properly managed.

A glaring example of mismanagement, which some visitors called ‘a callous attitude’, was evident from the printing mistakes in the over 200-page exhibitor’s catalogue which was proudly distributed among the exhibitors and visitors.

No one bothered to check that with the message of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen Ehsanul Haq, the picture of the Director General of Defence Export Promotion Organisation, Major General Absar Hussain, and vice versa, had been printed. Surprisingly despite this mistake being spotted, the organisers did not withdraw this publication.

The lack of information about the media-related events continued even when the event was about to conclude. Mishandling of media by the organisers and their failure to provide the required information also kept media-men generally away on the third day.

There were not many visitors at the overseas pavilions although they had brought some very interesting systems that were relevant to the improvement of security environment in our region.

Compared to Ideas-2004, not many MoUs were signed this time and, in fact, some financially well-placed Muslim countries, which had shown interest in Agosta-90 B submarines being built in Pakistan with French assistance, had struck deals directly with France for a more advanced platform. There were state-of-the-art tanks, missiles, sub-marines, aircraft, machineguns, heavy vehicles on display. Sudanese, Kuwaiti and Nigerian delegation were among some of those who visited the exhibition on Thursday.

One of the reasons for such response was that this time, Pakistan had displayed mostly the upgraded version of its weapon system and other gadgets.

The organisers have planned a demonstration by joint forces at Manora on Friday to round off the event.

Meanwhile, residents around the Expo Centre, the venue of the exhibition, complained of harassment by the security personnel, who obstructed their movement and forced them to remain confined to their homes. Even maids, newspaper hawkers and milkmen were denied right of way and humiliated by the police, they said.

They alleged that the security personnel, who were posted on rooftops, also forced people to keep closed the windows, doors and other openings towards the exhibition venue. Many of them also complained that security personnel had prevented their guests and other relatives from visiting them and some people faced immense hardship when they needed medical care.