Pakistan Ordnance Factories

The Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) is a major firearms, defence contractor, and military corporation headquartered in Wah Cantt, Punjab, Pakistan.[1] It is "the largest defence industrial complex under the Ministry of Defence Production, producing conventional arms & ammo to international standards. POF Board headquarter is at Wah Cantt. Presently POF comprises of 14 ordnance factories and three commercial subsidiaries. Pakistan Ordnance Factories also manufacture commercial explosives, hunting ammunition and possess extensive facilities for the manufacture of brass, copper and aluminum ingots, extrusions and sections for non-military applications. A garments factory, which has state of the art cloth cutting facilities and modern stitching units, manufactures military uniforms and can also cater for the needs of the civil sector".[2]

Pakistan Ordnance Factories
Native name
Urdu: پاکستان آئودی فیکٹریوں‎
State-owned enterprise
IndustryFirearms, Defense, Machinery
Founded1951 (1951)
Headquarters
Wah Cantonment, Punjab
,
Pakistan
Area served
worldwide
ProductsPistols, Rifles, Submachine gun, Machine gun, Shotguns, Munitions, Explosives, Machine tools
OwnerPakistan Ministry of Defence
Number of employees
>27,000
Websitewww.pof.gov.pk

Founded in 1951 by the government of Pakistan with early collaboration from the British Royal Ordnance Factory, 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.[3] Its corporate leadership comes from a deputation by GHQ where the chief of army staff (COAS) approves the appointment, but POF is under the Ministry of Defense, so the COAS is not in the direct chain of command.[4] 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.[5]

POF produces ammunition that meets requirements set by NATO specification.[5] Apart from military works, the POF also serves the civilian law enforcement agencies, paramilitary, and private security markets nationwide.[1]

History
Pakistan Ordnance Factories Old logo

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 independence 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.[6]

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.[7]

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 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
A variety of grenades, artillery shells, mortar shells and other ammunition produced by POF, on display at the IDEAS 2008 Defence Exhibition in Karachi, Pakistan.

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. [8]

Ammunition

Anti-aircraft & aircraft ammunition
  • 12.7x108 mm Soviet
  • 20x180 mm phalanx
  • 23 mm
  • 30 mm
  • 37 mm HE/T
  • Bomb HE AC 500 lb (250 kg)

Anti-tank & tank ammunition
  • 40 mm HEAT P1 MK1 (RPG-7P)
  • 73 mm FSRA HEAT round RAAD (SPG-9)
  • 100 mm TK HESH
  • 100 mm HE/TK P1A1
  • 100 mm APFSDS/T
  • 105 mm HE/TK P1A1
  • 105 mm APFSDS P1A1
  • 106 mm HEAT M344A3
  • 125 mm H.E.FS TK
  • 125 mm APFSDS/T
  • Tungsten alloy penetrator

Anti-submarine ammunition
  • Depth charge Mark II Mod 3

Artillery ammunition
  • QF 25 PDR mk 2/1
  • 105 mm howitzer
  • 122 mm howitzer HE
  • 122 mm howitzer ILLUMINATING (D30)
  • 130 mm HE
  • 155 mm howitzer HE M107
  • 203 mm howitzer HE M106 (8)

Fuzes, Detonators and Primers

Grenades
  • P2A1: Fragmentation grenade (ARGES HG 84 grenade)
  • WP P3 MK1: Smoke discharge/grenade, White Phosphorus (WP)
  • Target Indication smoke grenades

Military explosives and Propellants
  • Artillery ammunition propellant
  • Mortar and rocket ammunition propellant
  • Small bust
  • ammunition propellant
  • Demolition explosives

Mines
  • P3 Mk2 – (Anti-tank mine)
  • P4 – (Anti-personnel mine)
  • P5 Mk1 – (Anti-personnel mine)
  • P7 – (Anti-personnel mine)

Mortars
  • 60 mm mortar HE P2A1
  • 60 mm smoke WP P2A2
  • 60 mm illuminating signal
  • 81 mm mortar HE M57DA2
  • 81 mm smoke WP
  • 81 mm illuminating signal
  • 120 mm mortar HE M44A2
  • 120 mm smoke WP M44A1

Pyrotechnics and demolition stores
  • Flare (trip-wire) Mk 2/2
  • Shooting (pencil type)
  • Demolition charge No.1 6-INCH BeeHive MK-1
  • Demolition 1 OZ CE PRIMER

Rockets
  • 122 mm HE MBRL (YARMUK)

Small arms ammunition
  • 9x19mm Parabellum (Ball)
  • 5.56×45mm NATO (M-193 Ball, M-855 Penetrator)
  • 7.62×39mm Soviet
  • 7.62×51mm NATO (Ball, Tracer, Blank-Star Crimped)
  • 7.62×54mmR Soviet (Ball, Tracer)
  • 12 Bore (Shaheen Cartridges)
The Rheinmetall MG 3 machine gun, produced under license by POF, on display at the IDEAS 2008 Defense Exhibition in Karachi, Pakistan
Several HK MP5 and HK G3 variants produced by POF on display at an exhibition

Infantry weapons

Pistols
  • PK-9 – 9 mm calibre pistol
  • ST-9 – 9 mm calibre pistol
  • B-6 – 9 mm calibre pistol
  • POF-4 – 9 mm calibre pistol (Semi-auto version of SMG-PK)
  • POF-5 – 9 mm calibre pistol (Semi-auto version of HK MP5)
  • POF-10 – (details are not available)[9]

Shotguns
  • M204
  • M204 Hunter
  • SA-X 700
  • SA-W 700

Sub-machine guns
  • HK MP5 – 9 mm calibre sub-machine gun produced under license. Variants produced: MP5A2, MP5P3.
  • SMG-PK – 9 mm calibre compact machine pistol. Variants produced: PK1.

Assault rifles
  • HK G3 – 7.62×51 mm calibre assault rifle produced under license. Variants produced: G3A3, G3P4.
  • PK-18 – New assault rifle 7.62×51 mm calibre (G3 REPLACEMENT).[9]
  • PK-21 – New assault rifle/SMG 7.62×39 mm calibre (AK-103) (TYPE 56 REPLACEMENT).[9]

Precision rifles
  • Azb DMR MK1 – 7.62×51 mm calibre designated marksman rifle.
  • PSR-90 – 7.62×51 mm calibre sniper rifle, an indigenous variant of the HK MSG-90.
  • Light Sniper Rifle (LSR) – .308 Winchester calibre bolt action sniper rifle.[10][11]
  • .308 Win Sporter – .308 Winchester calibre sporting/hunting sniper rifle.

Machine guns

POF Eye
Main article: 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. 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.

Exports

In addition to meeting the demands of Pakistan Defense Forces, POF products are in service with over 40 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Ammunition and rifles have been exported to countries such as Iraq, Croatia 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.[13]

As of post 2010s, Pakistan has been aiming to push ahead with its export market but facing difficulties due to international guidelines enforced by the United Nations.[14]

In 2017, the POF announced it will be opening a branch in the United Arab Emirates and targeting Middle Eastern markets where it will cater not only the needs of the host country, but throughout much of the Middle East where demands are high.[15][16]

Incidents

August 2008 bombing
Main article: 2008 Wah bombing

On 21 August 2008, POF's industrial complex was the target of twin suicide bombings by the Tehrik-i-Taliban; 68 people were killed and 81 injured in the attack.[17]

See also

References
  1. Haider, Mateen (28 November 2014). "Made in Pakistan". Dawn newspapers, 2014. Dawn newspapers. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  2. Pakistan Ordnance Factories. "About Us". Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  3. NTI Staff writers and editors. "NTI on POF". Nuclear Threat Initiatives. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  4. Pakistan Ordnance Factories. "Frequently Asked Questions". Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  5. staff writer. "History of POF". History of POF. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  6. John Pike. "Wah – Pakistan Special Weapons Facilities". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 3 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  7. "Golden Jubilee of Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) Wah". pakpost.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  8. https://pof.gov.pk/products
  9. "Pakistan Ordnance Factories Reveals New PK18 and PK21 Assault Rifles". Quwa. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  10. https://quwa.org/2017/02/20/idex-2017-pakistan-ordnance-factories-aims-growth-uae-market/
  11. https://www.dawn.com/news/1256712
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), Homepage, Pakistan Ordnance Factories, Retrieved 23 October 2016
  13. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. "Pakistan finalising arrangements to target global arms market". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  15. "Pakistan Ordinance Factories to open office in UAE". dunyanews tv. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017.
  16. "POF to set up office in UAE". The Nation. Archived from the original on 21 February 2017.
  17. "Pakistan suicide bombers hit arms factory in Pakistan". BBC. 21 August 2008. Archived from the original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved 23 October 2016.

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