Karachi, Aug 10: Inspired by growing defence exports which last year touched the 90 million dollar mark, Pakistan is to hold a giant defence exhibition next month expected to attract the world's top manufacturers, a senior army official said today. Representatives from the defence industry in the US, UK, China, France, Russia, Italy, Ukraine and Romania have already booked exhibition space at the international defence exhibition and seminar (Ideas) 2002, director general of the Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO) Major General Syed Ali Hamid told reporters.
"Ideas 2002 will be held at a much larger scale and more than 40 military and defence delegations are expected to visit the exhibition," he said.
"The country earned 80-90 million dollars last year ... And the forthcoming exhibition will attract increased participation by the foreign as well as domestic defence sector," Hamid said.

Organisers are taking all possible security measures in coordination with the Sindh provincial administration and intellegence agencies, as well as police in the port city of Karachi.
The volatile city has recently witnessed a series of suicide bomb attacks aimed at foreigners, as well as the kidnapping and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl.

Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf is scheduled to inaugurate the four-day exhibition on September 16, Hamid said.

Bureau Report