[1] The Pakistan government attaches a high level of importance to IDEAS; despite the fact that it attracts a large number of delegates, it is seen as a vehicle for facilitating their own indigenous arms trade.

The level of political involvement has been known to reach the highest echelons, with President Asif Ali Zardari personally inviting the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the event in 2008 in order to boost the chances of Pakistan's export of its indigenously developed Al-Khalid main battle tanks.

However, after the 2010 conference was canceled due to catastrophic floods that hit Pakistan late that year, the contract for the event production was awarded to Badar Expo Solutions.

[4][5] In its second year the event had attracted wide international interest with General Hamid reporting to Dawn newspaper that exhibitors from China, Turkey, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, UAE and Saudi Arabia were expected to attend.

[8] The first contract to be announced was the co-production of arms and ammunition with Germany and the Republic of Korea and was disclosed by the Chairman of Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) Lt General Syed Sabahat Hussain.

Other notable attendees included: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and the State Minister for Defence Abdul Qayoom Khan Jatoi.

[14] On 15 October 2010, the Director General of DEPO issued a statement cancelling IDEAS, citing "devastating floods that effected 22 million people and resulted in loss of valuable lives and property"[15] as the reason.

[15] On 15 September 2011, 11 months after the previous IDEAS was cancelled due to force majeure The event, planned at the Karachi Expo Centre on 7–11 November, will see an enlarged seminar aspect focusing on tri-services military collateral, equipment and security services.

[16] Prime Minister Gilani underscored the exhibition's core tenet by stating that Pakistan would continue to "develop its military potential to guarantee peace with honor and dignity."

IDEAS 2016 was held from 22 to 25 November 2016 and the event was organized by DEPO (Defence Export Promotion Organization) whereas it was inaugurated by Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on DAY ONE and President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain attended the strategic seminar as Chief Guest held on evening of 1st day (22 November) at Moven Pick Hotel Karachi.

The event was conducted with full support of armed forces of Pakistan, Government of Sindh and under the overall umbrella of Ministry of Defence Production with Mr Rana Tanveer Hussain as Minister.