Coverage in SADJ
IDEAS 2013 will be covered in Volume 6, Number 3 of Small Arms Defense Journal.
Location
GPS coordinates: N24°50.839’ E067°01.519’
Karachi Expo Center
Sir Shah Muhammad Suleman Rd
Karachi, Pakistan
Website
www.ideaspakistan.gov.pk/
Contact
Defence Expo Promotion Organization
Defence Complex Islamabad (DCI)
Sector E-10, Islamabad – Pakistan
Tel: +92 51 9262016
Fax: +92 51 9262018
Email: info@depo.org.pk
wwww.depo.org.pk
Badar Expo Solutions
C-175, Block 9, Gulshan-e-Iqbal
Near Aziz Bhatti Park, Karachi – Pakistan
Tel: +92 21 34821159, 34821160
Fax: +92 21 34821179
Email: info@badarexpo.com
wwww.badarexpo.com
Next Show
November 22-25, 2016
Focus
IDEAS is focused on land and sea military products with law enforcement and air power added in. The goal is to bring the military of Pakistan and many allies into contact with the latest from suppliers and manufacturers, and for the Pakistan companies to be able to showcase to international customers.
Dress
Pakistan is a Muslim country and modest dress is required. For the show, Business attire is correct for civilians, class A’s for military.
Hotel Hints
There are many western type 4 and 5-star hotels in Karachi and they are familiar with the needs of the business traveler, along with security requirements. During IDEAS, the security is high, and every accommodation is made for safe, secure travel to and from the shows.
Power & Plug Types
Power is 220v 50 cycle, European two prong (C) and the old English plug with 3 round prongs (D) are common. Most hotels have U.S. style as well.
Country Warnings
Pakistan, in many parts, is a country under siege. There are areas travelers simply should not go. The same can be said of parts of New York, Paris, or Los Angeles. However, issues of unemployment and refugee camps, can enhance that danger considerably. Stay in western chain hotels and use the guidance of IDEAS personnel in your travel arrangements. Do not go to troubled regions unless you know how to do this safely. The city is basically safe if you follow the rules, and the show is well worth getting to.
Cultural Hints
The Pakistani people are generally very friendly and interested in just about anything foreigners are doing. This is great if you’re with like-minded people, but not so good if a crowd starts gathering in an outlying area. Most will shake hands enthusiastically. Remember this is an Islamic country and very observant, so religious discussions and immodest attire should be avoided.
Tipping
Taxis are a “round-up” or 20-30 Rupees for short trips, it’s appreciated. Restaurants in hotels usually add 10%, you can add more above that, bellhops 30-40 Rupees per bag.
Show Food
IDEAS management and DEPO provided a number of very nice catered lunches for VIPs and some exhibitors; be sure to make arrangements for these. The food court area had a KFC with spicy chicken sandwiches. KFC is Halal there and very popular in Pakistan.
Currency Type
The Pakistani Rupee (PKR) was at press time approximately 1 U.S. cent, 0.7 Eurocent, and 0.6 British Penny. For up to date quotes visit www.xe.com
Getting Around
We recommend using hotel cars as opposed to hailing taxis. There are issues with language for non-Pakistani speakers, and safety concerns as well. Budget for this. Getting to and from the show, many hotels are on the hotel shuttle circuit for the show, check with your concierge or the show management.
Military Museums
There are some military museums that are farther away than a simple day’s travel, most notably the Pakistan Army Museum in Rawalpindi.
Tourism
www.tourism.gov.pk is a great resource from the Pakistan government and we recommend it. The usual Lonely Planet and other online resources will be helpful. Be mindful of the troubled areas either from the natural disaster region where the intense flooding was, or the Taliban areas.
