IDEAS 2000 - 2016
IDEAS 2000
The inaugural launch of IDEAS occurred in Year-2000 during the era of Chief Executive Gen. Pervez Musharraf and this idea is used to promote Pakistan's domestic arms manufacturing businesses whilst providing a stage for international vendors to offer solutions to the requirements of the tri-services of Pakistan. The event, having always been scheduled for the Karachi Expo Centre, in its first year attracted forty-five delegations from foreign countries.
IDEAS 2002
In its second year the event had attracted wide international interest from China, Turkey, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, UAE and Saudi Arabia were attended.
Already by 2002, IDEAS was being touted as the largest commercial event in the history of Pakistan with 45 official delegations from 30 countries attending and 110 exhibition stands from 25 countries.
IDEAS 2004
The 3rd International Defense Exhibition and Seminar was opened once again by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and was held in the Karachi Expo Centre, September 14-17, 2004. Major General Syed Ali Hamid presided over the event and oversaw growth from the previous two exhibitions with delegations from over seventy different countries having been confirmed.
IDEAS has taken a unique role in highlighting Pakistan's potential for defense ties and trade between countries in Asia, the Middle East and African region, while facilitating the need for an enhanced market base for indigenously manufactured defense products."
IDEAS 2006
The seminar-element of the conference, held on 20 November 2006, was reduced to one day and DEPO had targeted to attract 74 countries for it. Such was the high demand for the 4th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar
The mounting security problems in Pakistan and the rising profile of IDEAS, the army declared the whole area surrounding the Expo Centre a high-security zone for a week, which included the cessation of any labouring to complete development work in the immediate vicinity.
The event was considered a success by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Ehsan-ul-Haque and a closing ceremony, held at Manora Island, included aerial formations and aerobatics from the Pakistan Air Force with the Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Army displaying indigenously manufactured submarines and vehicles. Summarizing the exhibition at an affiliated dinner, according to Dawn newspaper, Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim said "Pakistan's armed forces had realized the dream of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah of a strong and stable Pakistan through acquisition of modern technology and that it was glorious for Pakistan and particularly Sindh that the biggest defense exhibition in the history of the country was held in Karachi.
IDEAS 2008
The 5th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar was inaugurated by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. The exhibition area alone had grown to have diverse company representatives from 58 countries and the new Director General of DEPO, Major General Mohammad Farooq reported that of the 256 participating companies, 94 were Pakistani and 162 from abroad. Furthermore over 100 breakout meetings between government and industry had also been arranged and the event would feature as its highlight a static display of the joint venture fighter jet launched by the Pakistanis and Chinese, the JF-17 Thunder.
JF-17 Thunder Aircraft at IDEAS 2008 General Farooq, DG DEPO, stated that a considerable contributing factor for the success of IDEAS 2008 was the introduction of a soft launch several months prior to the exhibition on 23 May 2008. The fact that the Prime Minister lead the soft launch and hosted delegates from most conceivable stakeholders from a wide range of countries and industry partners helped grow the event.
IDEAS 2010
In view of devastating floods that effected 22 million people and resulted in loss of valuable lives and property, Government of Pakistan has decided to cancel IDEAS-2010.
IDEAS 2012
The 7th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS - 2012) was successfully held at Expo Center, Karachi, Pakistan from 7 - 11 November 2012. Notwithstanding its conduct after a lapse of four years instead of two, the event received an overwhelming response from across the globe. A total of 57 nations were represented in IDEAS - 2012 in the form of Foreign Delegations and International Exhibitors. Around 80 Delegations representing 57 nations attended IDEAS - 2012 including 24 high level delegations headed either by the Defense Ministers, Secretaries or Services Chiefs of the respective countries. A total of 209 firms (135 foreign and 74 local) exhibited their products during the exhibition. Total attendance of IDEAS - 2012 exceeded the figure of 30,000, which includes Foreign Delegates, Trade Visitors and Exhibitors.
IDEAS 2014
The event was managed by Pakistan's leading event management company Badar Expo Solutions. The event received an overwhelming response from across the globe. A total of 56 nations were represented in IDEAS - 2014 in the form of Foreign Delegations and International Exhibitors. 88 Delegations representing 50 nations attended IDEAS - 2014 including 47 high level delegations headed either by their Defense Ministers, Secretaries or Services Chiefs of the respective countries. A total of 333 companies (256 foreign and 77 local) exhibited their products during the exhibition.
IDEAS - 2014 embodied a host of activities comprising of a display of different defense products and equipment's, an impressive Inauguration Ceremony, a seminar, sideline conferences and networking of high level delegates with exhibitors and OEMs.
The Inauguration Ceremony of IDEAS - 2014 was conducted on 1st December 2014. Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The ceremony was attended by Official Delegates, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Services Chiefs, Senior Government Officials, Foreign Diplomats and a large number of Exhibitors.
The major indigenously developed products showcased during IDEAS - 2014, included Main Battle Tank Al-Khalid, Fighter Aircraft JF-17 Thunder, Jet Trainer Aircraft K-8 and a variety of UAVs etc. IDEAS - 2014 offered a unique opportunity to the international delegates and visitors in acquiring an insight into the entire defense manufacturing and training capabilities of Pakistan, exhibited under single umbrella. It may be pertinent to highlight that Pakistan has a large defense manufacturing, training and support infrastructure in place, which not only meets the needs of Pakistani Armed Forces, but also has the capacity to fulfill demands of other countries with exceptionally high quality products at mutually acceptable terms.
Among the international exhibitors, exclusive country pavilions were set up by Turkey and China. Defense products and equipment's from companies representing North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Far East were also impressively displayed through various stalls. Russian Helicopter Company also exhibited it stall. There were nine countries like Australia, Canada, Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Thailand and UAE, who participated in IDEAS for the first time.
On diplomatic front, Foreign Delegates / Trade Visitors and Media endorsed the efficiency of IDEAS - 2014 as an extremely valuable and interactive forum for the defense trade. Signing of several MoUs between the governments and private companies has further enhanced the utility and success of this event.
Growth of IDEAS
| Year | Countries | Foreign | Domestic | Total |
| 2014 | 38 | 256 | 77 | 333 |
| 2012 | 23 | 74 | 135 | 209 |
| 2010 | - | Cancelled Due to Flood |
| 2008 | 29 | 162 | 94 | 256 |
| 2006 | 26 | 148 | 73 | 221 |
| 2004 | 22 | 90 | 73 | 163 |
| 2002 | 20 | 52 | 60 | 112 |
| 2000 | 15 | 40 | 25 | 65 |
IDEAS 2016
IDEAS - 2016, being the most strategically important event of the region, will once again bring together all the industry's players across the globe to showcase the latest technological innovations. The 4 days of the Show are exclusively for trade visitors and high official defense delegates.
The most productive geopolitical region of Asia is one of the largest markets for Defense Products. In a bid to effectively meet the new challenge posed by the transformed regional and global security dynamics, Asia as well as governments of the neighboring continent of Africa allocates significant budgets for modernization and up-gradation programs for their armed forces.
In the exhibition arranged by Defense Export and Promotion Organization under the theme of "Arms for Peace," as many as 90 delegates from 43 countries participated, 21 foreign and 157 national firms showcased their products in the exhibition.
In the exhibition, Pakistan and Ukraine signed an agreement for up-gradation of Al Khalid Tank, under which Ukraine agreed to provide engines to Pakistan for 200 Al-Khalid II tanks.
The MoUs also included signing between local defense industries, STI Pakistan and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra for development of simulation of Super Mushak, between Pakistan Ordinance Factory (POF) and Ms Czechoslovak Group and between POF and Ms Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa.
According to the organizers, JF-Thunder, K8 Aircraft, Al-Khalid Tank, Fast Attack Craft Missile Boat and other defense products were showcased in the exhibition.
