The manufacturers of Hunting and Sporting arms in Peshawar and Darra Adem Khel have been facilitated to exhibit their products in the International Defence Exhibition (IDEAS 2008), which is going to be started in Karachi from November 24 to 28.
Pakistan Hunting and Sporting Arms Development Company (PHSADC) has made arrangements for the participation of the arms dealers from Peshawar and Darra Adam Khel at the International Defence Exhibition, said Nauman Wazir, said Chairman PHSADC, Nauman Wazir in a press statement issued here on Thursday.
"The decision has been taken to provide an opportunity to the local arm dealers to exhibit their products at international exhibition and furthermore to highlight to the visiting foreign dealers the skill of Pakistan's arm manufacturers in manufacturing of sports and hunting arms," he added.
In all a total of 25 arm dealers, about eight exhibitors and trade visitors, are participating in the Defence Exhibition. The PHSADC, he continued, has extended assistance to the arm dealers in processing their documents for registration in the exhibition. Similarly, shifting of arms to be displayed at the exhibition would also be made by the PHSADC.
The company has also booked a stall for the arm manufacturers and they would also be assisted in case any order was given to them by any international company. Nauman Wazir said IDEAS is a big opportunity for dealers of both lethal and sporting arms and provides a perfect interactive platform for the defence industry of the region. He said it is for the first time that such a large number of arm dealers from Peshawar and Darra are taking part in IDEAs.
He said after holding of IDEAs, he would also hold meeting with arm dealers of Karachi for exchanging views with them on problems they are facing in manufacturing and export of arms. Similarly, meeting with Pak-Swiss Trading Company will also be held in Karachi in regard with arms manufacturing technology, he added.
He said PHSADC is working to harness the national potential of hunting and sporting arm industry of Pakistan. There are clusters of arm dealers in cities like Peshawar, Darra, Lahore, Sialkot, Pindigheb, Sargodha, Quetta and Northern Areas. PHSADC is working on capacity building of these arm dealers by upgrading their technology so that the quality of the products they produce is improved and made exportable.