Section 144 imposed in Karachi as 4-day defence expo kicks off today

• PM Shehbaz to open IDEAS-24 at Expo Centre, Karachi today.
• Expo being held under Ministry of Defence and Defence Production. 
• Startups Pavilion going to be one of new attractions this year.

Strict security measures, including a seven-day ban on protests and rallies in Karachi, have been put in place as the megacity hosts the 12th edition of the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS-24) at the Expo Centre from November 19 to 22, 2024.

The ban, effective from November 18 to 24, was announced late Monday by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi under Section 144, following a request from the Additional Inspector General of Police, Karachi Range.

A notification issued in this regard states that public gatherings of more than five people will not be allowed during the given period. Similar restrictions have also been imposed in Islamabad in a notification issued by the Additional Deputy Commissioner.

The defence exhibition will open today after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurates it. The exhibition will be organised by the Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO), under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence and Defence Production, aiming to promote Pakistan's defence industry internationally.

The event as per its traditions will showcase splendid activities encompassing world’s advanced defence technology demonstrations, international seminar, IDEAS Tri-Services Karachi Show, networking, and business expansions through B2B and B2G engagements.

The IDEAS-24 will bring together defence industries from across the globe to showcase their latest technological innovations.

The Defence Industry of Pakistan (public as well as private) will also showcase its defence-related products of international standards.

One of the new additions to the IDEAS-2024 will be the Startups Pavilion which is being established under the auspices of the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), the Pakistan Navy Maritime Science and Technology Park (PNMSTP) and the National Aerospace and Technology Park (NASTP) in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the defence sector, with a view to giving international exposure to young entrepreneurs, who are expected to display highly innovative projects and technologies.

Senior civil and military delegations and trade visitors in large numbers will also be witnessing the IDEAS-24, according to the Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO).

The previous edition of the defence exhibition was attended by 350 delegates from 57 countries, as well as high-level delegations headed by defence ministers, defence secretaries and heads of the armed forces.