| Type | Defence |
|---|---|
| Industry | Arms and ammunition manufacturer |
| Founded | 1951, Wah, Pakistan |
| Headquarters | Wah Cantonment |
| Key people | LTG Shujaat Zamir Dar (Chairman) Munir Mohsin Syed (Director Exports) |
| Products | Infantry weapons Ammunition for: small arms, artillery, mortar, tank and anti-tank, aircraft and anti-aircraft weapons Pyrotechnics, fuzes, detonators, primers, propellants and explosives |
| Employees | Over 40,000 [1] |
| Website | www.pof.gov.pk |
Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) was founded in 1951 with the primary objective of producing arms and ammunition for the armed forces of Pakistan. POF was given the responsibility of running the factories on sound commercial lines and utilizing any spare production capacity for meeting requirements of the civil sector and exports.
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During their colonial rule, the British built sixteen ordnance factories in India, which at the time of the partition in 1947 all fell to Indian control. Pakistan's first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, issued a directive within four months of the creation of Pakistan to establish an ordnance factory in collaboration with British Royal Ordnance Factory to manufacture 0.303 calibre rifles for Mr Ali Nisar and their ammunition in Rawalpindi. In December 1951 Pakistan's second Prime Minister, Khawaja Nazimuddin, took part in the opening ceremony of the first four POF workshops in the small town of Wah Cantonment.[2]
Located 45 km from Islamabad and with main manufacturing facilities at Wah Cantonment, POF is a sprawling complex of fourteen production units and six subsidiaries producing conventional arms and ammunition. Research and development projects have been undertaken to minimize dependence on foreign suppliers. Efforts have been made towards self-reliance through innovation and indigenization, for achieving the following:-
1. Optimal utilization of surplus capacity of POF.
2. Generation of funds to supplement budget grant.
3. Participative collaboration with the private sector.
4. Enhancing exports.
POF uses technology and equipment that has been acquired from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and China. The factories in POF employ some of the latest state of the art processes, including computerized numerical controlled machines and flexible Manufacturing systems for the production of precision components.
A Stamp was also issued by Pakistan Post on the occasion of golden jubilee of POF (Dt. 28-12-2001) to honour the country's largest defense manufacturing unit's services.[3]
POF has been awarded standards by the International Organisation for Standardisation. These include ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, and ISO 17025 for meeting the general requirements for Competence of Test and Calibration Laboratories.In 2005, P.O.F was also awarded with safety and health environment standard OHSAS 18001.
During a visit to POF, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz made the following tribute:
POF produce approximately 70 major products for supply to the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force. The main products include automatic rifles, light/medium/heavy machine guns, a wide range of mortar and artillery ammunition, aircraft and anti-aircraft ammunition, tank and anti-tank ammunition, bombs, grenades, land mines, pyrotechnics and signal stores.
In addition to meeting the demands of Pakistan Defence Forces, POF products are in service with over 40 countries, in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Ammunition and rifles have been exported to countries like Iraq and Afghanistan for their respective military establishments.
POF specializes in the manufacturing of commercial explosives, hunting ammunition and possesses extensive facilities for the manufacture of brass, copper and aluminum ingots. A state of the art garments factory, manufactures military uniforms and can also cater for the needs of the civil sector.
POF Eye
POF Eye is a special-purpose hand-held weapon system similar in concept to the CornerShot that can fire weapons around corners. It was first revealed at the 5th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2008), held at the Karachi Expo Centre in November 2008.[2][3] It is designed for SWAT and special forces teams in hostile situations, particularly counter-terrorism and hostage rescue operations. It allows its operator to both see and attack an armed target without exposing the operator to counter-attack.