The Pakistan Ordnance Factories (commonly abbreviated as POF) is a state-owned manufacturing complex headquartered in Wah Cantt, Punjab, Pakistan.
History During 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.
POF at received the machinery from ROF Fazakerley in the UK to produce the Lee Enfield No.4 rifle. 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.
Products
The 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.
Customers
Civil Trade
POF 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
Exports 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 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, 122mm howitzer shells,Pakistan, Ukraine, And The Race For Third-Party Ammunition, 6 October 2022, The Drive 155mm artillery shells, M4A2 propelling bag charges, M82 primers, PDM fuses,Pakistan sending large quantity of artillery ammunition to Ukraine,12 January 2023, Army Recognition. M44A2 120mm HE mortar bombs,[ https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1636372521087045637 Ukraine Weapons Tracker], 16 March 2023, Twitter. 130mm shells, 40mm RPG7 HEAT ammo, 12.7×99mm armor piercing cartridges, 12.7×108mm bullets, and 7.62×54mmR bullets.Pak emerges as major supplier of ammunition to Ukraine in war with Russia, 15 April 2023, Sunday Guardian Alive.
Incidents
August 2008 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.
2021 explosion
See also
List of products of Pakistan Ordnance Factories Ministry of Defense Production Heavy Industries Taxila Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Pakistan Aeronautical Complex National Radio and Telecommunication corporation
References
External links
Pakistan Ordnance Factories