IDEAS 2000
Show Review

A handout issued by the organisers of IDEAS 2000.

The first ever Tri-Service Defence Exhibition and the largest International Event of its kind in Pakistan, ‘IDEAS 2000’, set off at the EXPO Centre in Karachi, Pakistan, on Tuesday, 14 November 2000

Mr. Mohammad Rafiq Tarar, President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, honoured the event as Chief Guest. Service Chiefs of Pakistan Navy and Airforce were also present at the event.

The presence of delegates from 35 countries, with a combined procurement budget of over 20 billion dollars, prides IDEAS 2000 and its organizers for being the initiators in bringing together the nations with their geopolitical significance from across the globe.

In his opening address, the President Mr. Rafiq Tarar said, ‘From being a country dependent on military aid from abroad, Pakistan is now in a position to meet a large portion of its defence needs indigenously. Pakistan has a large defence production sector which not only has the surplus capacity to meet the needs of friendly countries, but is also in a position to manufacture quality products for global defence industry companies.’

Maj. Gen. Syed Ali Hamid-Chief Coordinator IDEAS 2000-in his address said that ‘To balance between limited resources and the demands for national security, Pakistan, like others, has opted for a combination of indigenous manufacture and selective purchase from abroad of assemblies and complete systems. We have also opted for a mix of medium technology to meet our bulk requirements and high technology to give us an edge in critical areas’.

Mr. Aasim A. Siddiqui, Managing Director Pegasus Consultancy (Pvt.) Ltd. the Sponsors and Organizers of this show, while addressing to the attendees, said that ‘An international market has been created for the first time within Pakistan and the aim is to attract foreign buyers and further enhance technological advancement in the local defence industry.’

Later, the President visited the three halls and the outdoor exhibit area. The Chief of Naval Staff visited Halls 1 and 2, while Chief of the Air Staff visited Hall 3 as well as the outdoor exhibits.

After their visits to the exhibits, the distinguished guests witnessed the Mobility Display of tracked and wheeled vehicles featuring indigenously rebuilt Tanks and APCs. This Mobility Display took place daily during the exhibition. A Mock Battle Display, performed by a unit of Infantry Regiment, added to the Mobility Display with the action and Pakistan Army’s manpower capability in its true essence.

A colourful display of Musical Ride by President’s Bodyguards, Army Musical Band and Fireworks concluded the Inauguration Ceremony.

The four days were planned to provide the attendees with the maximum opportunity to interact with each other. To serve this purpose, meetings between the delegates and exhibitors were scheduled and arranged in the specifically designed and designated Meeting Chalets inside each hall and in the offices of the Chief Executive, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Secretary Defence Production, Secretary Defence, Vice Chief of Air Staff, Vice Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of General Staff.

Another highlight for IDEAS 2000 was the launching of Super Mushak and Grifo-7 radar. Super Mushak, structured and manufactured by AMF, PAC-Kamra, under licence from SAAB, is a light, robust, single piston engine, two/three seat aircraft with a structure of predominantly all metal stressed skin construction. The Grifo-7 radar is a joint venture of Italian firm M/s FIAR and Kamra Avionics & Radar Factory, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Kamra. The first radar was produced in October this year and the serial production is in full swing.

The Chief Executive, General Pervez Musharraf, visited IDEAS 2000 on the second day of the event. Major General Syed Ali Hamid, Chief Coordinator, accompanied by Mr. Aasim A. Siddiqui, Managing Director Pegasus, welcomed the Chief Executive.

General Pervez Musharraf visited a number of stalls including Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), National Development Complex (NDC), Dr. A.Q. Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) along with other exhibits representing Pakistan’s armament and defence-related manufacturers.

General Musharraf also met with delegates from various countries and shared views on mutual interests concerning peace and stability in the region as well as elsewhere in the world. Later, the CE visited the stalls in the Open Air Display Area including Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT), Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Millat Tractors and saw their exhibits with great interest. He also viewed the Mobility Display of Tracked and Wheeled Vehicles.

Pegasus Consultancy (Pvt.) Ltd. signed an MoU on Wednesday, 15th November 2000 with one of the largest event management companies of the world, ITE Group Plc, based in London. ITE Group is the leading international exhibition and conference organizer in emerging markets, providing services to over 50,000 corporate clients annually. Through its worldwide network of offices and partners, the group organizes over 325 exhibitions around the world in over 25 countries and holds an extensive programme of conferences and trade seminars for some 33 trade sectors.

A highly formal reception was held at the Governor House in honour of the High Level Delegates officially visiting IDEAS 2000. The Governor of Sindh, Mr. Mohammedmian Soomro, hosted the reception.

Chief Executive, General Pervez Musharraf, graced the auspicious occasion as the Chief Guest.

The Governor’s Reception served as an ideal interactive platform where the delegations and dignitaries had the opportunity to meet the top Officials from Pakistan Armed Forces and the Government and exchange views on mutual interests.

The attendees also included Exhibitors, Trade Visitors, Sindh and Federal Government Officials, leading Corporate Executives and senior members from the leading local and multinational companies, Pakistan Armed Forces Personnel and the Organizing Committee officials.

The delegates, exhibitors and visitors to IDEAS 2000 were welcomed to Pakistan in the traditional Pakistani manner at Frere Hall, Bagh-e-Jinnah, where Pakistan’s mellifluous and vivid cultural heritage was portrayed at a Gala Night and Cultural Show, organized by Pegasus Consultancy.

Chief Executive of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, graced this gala event. In addition, members of Diplomatic Corp, Executives from leading commercial organizations and Senior Military and Government Officials were present at the event.

This sound and light extravaganza, named as ‘A Tapestry of Culture’ served to project the changing culture of this region through the passage of time as well as in portraying the multi-dimensional lifestyle of Pakistan.

A static display at the Naval Dockyard was also held in concurrence with the exhibition. Agosta 90-B Submarine-a result of the technology transfer pact between the Pakistani and French Governments, besides the other key Naval Ships, Midget Submarines, Missile Boats and Frigates, that are indigenously manufactured, were part of the display.

The International Defence Conference held along with the exhibition on the second and third day. During the two days of conference Strategic, Defence, Operational and Tactical issues were discussed in light of the geopolitical perspectives. Eminent speakers from throughout the world provided a comprehensive view on the confluence of procurement behaviour and influence of technology on development of defence equipment.

Scientists, physicists and analysts mainly from leading Pakistani organizations like: National Development Complex (NDC) and Dr. A. Q. Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) presented their technological achievements to the attendees. While, Defence Production was discussed during the second day of the conference in light of themes like Geopolitical Issues, Business and Technology.

IDEAS 2000 concluded with a robust Firing Demonstration of land based weapons firing and aerial manoeuvres and firing by the PAF aircraft to illustrate Pakistan’s yielding defence industry, hosted by Chief of the Air Staff.

Highlighting Pakistan Air Force’s collaboration with SAGEM of France, the upgraded Mirages joined the formations of F-16s, F-7Ps and F-6s displaying the precision in their firepower capabilities.

K-8 (Jet Trainer) built in collaboration with China and Super Mushak (Primary Trainer)-an upgraded version of Mushak (MFI-17) built in Pakistan also added to the aerial manoeuvres at the demonstration.

The tracked and wheeled heavy artillery and land based weapons including T-85 & T-59 tanks and Mortar guns, as well as, ANZA and Baktar Shikan missiles also illustrated the indigenous technological achievements of Pakistan’s prospering armament industry by firing accurately on their respective targets.

Another feature of the demonstration was the ammunition being used that is produced indigenously while meeting the explicit international standards.

IDEAS 2000 prides its organizers and everyone concerned for being able to create an interactive environment locally and internationally for the defence industry for the third world in accordance with the standards followed by the international defence exhibitions. As a tangible result to these efforts, this fact also adds to the pride that rebooking of stands for the next IDEAS, due from 17-20 September 2002 has already started to pour in.

It is hoped that IDEAS will serve to encourage mutual cooperation on international grounds and will emerge as a meeting point for the friendly nations in order to find common interests and possible areas of cooperation, to benefit from each other’s strengths and to cultivate new relationships.