Over 40 countries to attend Pakistan defense exhibition

ISLAMABAD: Around 90 delegations from 43 countries, including Russia and China, will attend a mega defense expo starting tomorrow in Karachi where Pakistan will showcase some of its indigenously-built defense equipment like battle tank Al-Khalid and JF-17 Thunder fighter jet.

About 418 firms, including 261 from 34 foreign countries and 157 from Pakistan, will showcase their latest defense equipment at the four-day event.

The 9th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) received an overwhelming response from exhibitors as well as delegations from around the globe, said Commodore Tahir Javed, media director of the Defense Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO), Ministry of Defense Production.

He said 30 high-level teams comprising defense ministers, defense secretaries and services chiefs are attending the biennial event.

"The defense industries of Turkey, China, Russia, North America, South America, Europe and Asia will have a significant presence," he said.

Nine new countries which include Luxembourg, Denmark, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, Nigeria and Romania are also attending the event.

Some of the major indigenously developed products to be showcased at the event include battle tank Al-Khalid, JF-17 Thunder, Super Mushshak and K-8 aircraft, Fast Attack Craft Missile boats, UAVs, armored personnel carriers and premium grade military hardware.

Besides showcasing of products, there will be several high-level meetings among foreign delegates, key government officials and participants on the sidelines for forging alliances in defence production.