The Pakistan Ordnance Factories (commonly abbreviated as POF) is a state-owned manufacturing complex headquartered in Wah Cantt, Punjab, Pakistan.[1]
 A Rheinmetall MG 3 produced under license by POF | |
Native name | Urdu: پاکستان آرڈیننس فیکٹریاں |
|---|---|
| Type | State-owned enterprise |
| Industry | Arms Industry |
| Founded | 28 December 1951 |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Lt General Syed Tahir Hameed Shah, HI(M) (Chairman) |
| Owner | MoDP, Government of Pakistan |
| Website | www.pof.gov.pk POF Youtube Channel |
History
editDuring their colonial rule, the British built sixteen ordnance factories in the British Raj, all of which were inherited by India upon the partition of the subcontinent in 1947.
Pakistan's first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, issued a directive within four months of the formation of Pakistan to establish an ordnance factory in collaboration with British Royal Ordnance Factory to manufacture 0.303 calibre rifles.
On 28 December 1951 Pakistan's Second Prime Minister, Khawaja Nazimuddin, inaugurated the first four workshops.[2]
POF at received the machinery from ROF Fazakerley in the UK to produce the Lee Enfield No.4 rifle.[3] These rifles operated on the 0.303 calibre cartridges.
A stamp was also issued by Pakistan Post on the occasion of the golden jubilee of POF, on 28 December 2001, to honour POF's services.[4]
Products
editThe POF produces multiple weapons under license from other defense manufacturers such as Heckler and Koch, Beretta, NORINCO as well as having its own extensive R&D. The POF produces ammunition & armaments that meet requirements set by NATO specification.[5][6]
Customers
edit
Civil Trade
editPOF is also produces arms and armaments for sports shooting, hunting and self-defense. POF has the exclusive rights to produce prohibited-bore weapons in Pakistan. POF produces multiple arms and ammunitions under license from other defense manufacturers such as heckler and koch, Beretta, NORINCO among others [7]
Exports
editPOF 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 Ukraine, Iraq, Croatia and Afghanistan for their respective military establishments.
During the Russo-Ukrainian War, BBC Urdu claimed that POF has allegedly exported arms and ammunition, worth $364 Million, to armed forced of Ukraine. The various type of ammunition provided are 122mm Yarmuk HE-Frag rockets,[8][9] 122mm howitzer shells,[10] 155mm artillery shells, M4A2 propelling bag charges, M82 primers, PDM fuses,[11] M44A2 120mm HE mortar bombs,[12] 130mm shells, 40mm RPG7 HEAT ammo, 12.7×99mm armor piercing cartridges, 12.7×108mm bullets, and 7.62×54mmR bullets.[13]
Incidents
editAugust 2008 bombing
editOn 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.[14]
2021 explosion
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ↑ 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.
- ↑ John Pike. "Wah Cantonment – Pakistan Special Weapons Facilities". GlobalSecurity.org website. Archived from the original on 3 June 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
- ↑ "1961 No.4 Mk2".
"The Pakistani Ordnance Factory at Wah Cantt received the machinery from ROF Fazakerley in the UK and the necessary tools and gauges to produce the No.4 rifle".
- ↑ "Golden Jubilee of Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) Wah". pakpost.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
- ↑ "History of POF". History of POF. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ↑ "Pakistan Ordnance Factories".
- ↑ "Purchase of prohibited bore arms, except those made by POF, banned". Business Recorder. 16 November 2023.
- ↑ "До України доставили пакистанські снаряди Yarmuk". 26 March 2023.
- ↑ "Pakistani Artillery Rockets for BM-21 Grad MLRS are in Use of Ukrainian Military (Photo)". 26 March 2023.
- ↑ Pakistan, Ukraine, And The Race For Third-Party Ammunition, 6 October 2022, The Drive
- ↑ Pakistan sending large quantity of artillery ammunition to Ukraine,12 January 2023, Army Recognition.
- ↑ [ https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1636372521087045637 Ukraine Weapons Tracker], 16 March 2023, Twitter.
- ↑ Pak emerges as major supplier of ammunition to Ukraine in war with Russia, 15 April 2023, Sunday Guardian Alive.
- ↑ "Pakistan suicide bombers hit arms factory in Pakistan". BBC. 21 August 2008. Archived from the original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved 23 October 2016.