Pakistan stages arms fair

A major defence exhibition opens today Tuesday in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi.

The show called Ideas 2000 is intended to boost Pakistan's efforts to break into the international arms market.

More than forty foreign delegations are due to attend, mainly representing countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Officials say there are no restrictions on selling arms to any of them.

Most of Pakistan's armaments factories are state-run and produce weapons for its own armed forces.

Critics say the industry is under-used and a drain on the country's resources.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service