The Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) is a major firearms and a defence contractor headquartered in Wah Cantt, Punjab, Pakistan. Described as "the largest defence industrial complex under the Ministry of Defence Production, producing conventional arms and ammunition to the international standards" by the Government of Pakistan.
The POF was founded by the Government of Pakistan with early collaboration from the former British Royal Ordnance Factory in 1951. The POF engineers, develops, produces, manufactures, and promotes a wide range of different types of infantry and special-purpose weapons, explosives, ammunition, mortars, rockets, and the military gear for Pakistan's military. The POF is owned and sponsored by the Ministry of Defence Production whose corporate leadership comes from a deputation by the Army GHQ of the Pakistan Army. The POF is the earliest and one of the largest military corporations in Pakistan, and later influenced many other military corporations in the Pakistan Armed Forces.
The POF produces ammunition that meets requirements set by NATO specification. Apart from military works, the POF also serves the civilian law enforcement agencies, Civil Armed Forces, and private security markets nationwide.
History
During their colonial rule, the British built sixteen ordnance factories in the British Raj, most of which were inherited by India. Pakistan's first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, issued a directive within four months of the formation/creation of Pakistan to establish an ordnance factory in collaboration with British Royal Ordnance Factory to manufacture 0.303 calibre rifles. In December 1951 Pakistan's second Prime Minister, Khawaja Nazimuddin, inaugurated the first four POF workshops in the small town of Wah Cantonment.
Background
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 minimise dependence on foreign suppliers. Efforts have been made towards self-reliance through innovation and indigenisation, for achieving the following:-
1. Optimal utilisation 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, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and China. The factories in POF employ some of the latest state of the art processes, including computerised 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 December 2001) to honour the country's largest defence manufacturing unit's services.
POF has been awarded standards by the International Organization for Standardization. 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 is an island of excellence for Pakistan. POF and its employees have played a critical and valuable role in bolstering Pakistan’s defence. We are all proud of what you have achieved. I wish you continued success in the future."
Products
POF produce approximately 70 major products for supply to the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force. The main products include automatic rifles, Pistols, 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, small ammunition, rockets, military & commercial explosives & propellants and signal stores.
Ammunition
Anti-aircraft & aircraft ammunition
12.7x99 mm NATO
12.7x108 mm Soviet
14.5x114 mm Soviet
20 mm phalanx
23 mm
30 mm
35 mm
37 mm
57 mm
Bomb HE AC 500 lb (250 kg) Bomb HE AC 1000 lb (500 kg)
Anti-tank & tank ammunition
40 mm (RPG-7P/7AP) 73 mm (SPG-9) 100 mm 105 mm 106 mm 125 mm Tungsten alloy penetrators & rods
