Summary
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir visited Pakistan Ordnance Factories in Wah on Friday. The visit focused on reviewing the complex’s production capabilities, export potential, and its role in strengthening the country’s defence industrial base. According to the military’s media wing, the CDF also witnessed tests and trials of newly designed weapons and ammunition during the tour.
Background
Pakistan Ordnance Factories, commonly known as POF, has served as the backbone of the country’s defence manufacturing since 1951. Headquartered in Wah Cantonment, the complex produces everything from small arms and ammunition to explosives and military equipment used across the Pakistan Armed Forces. Over the decades it has grown into one of the largest state-run defence manufacturing hubs in South Asia, exporting products to dozens of countries.
Friday’s visit comes at a time when Pakistan’s defence sector is undergoing structural change, with the recent enactment of the DIPRA Ordinance pushing forward a corporatization process for state-owned defence industries. That shift is intended to make organisations like POF more commercially competitive while retaining their core role of supplying the Pakistan Armed Forces.
Details
During the visit, the CDF was briefed on various aspects of POF’s operations, including how the organisation contributes to national defence through indigenous development and production of military equipment. He was also given a progress update on the corporatization process now underway following the enactment of the DIPRA Ordinance, a key policy shift affecting how Pakistan’s defence manufacturing sector operates going forward.
POF’s product catalogue spans a wide range of items, from pistols and automatic rifles to heavy machine guns, mortars, and various types of ammunition produced to international specifications. Its small arms range includes locally designed handguns such as variants sometimes referred to in industry circles as the POF pk9 and POF X 9mm pistol families, alongside longer-established products like the PK-16 heavy machine gun and the PSR-90 sniper rifle. As a manufacturing machine in Pakistan’s broader defence ecosystem, POF continues to expand its portfolio to meet both domestic requirements and growing export interest.
The CDF witnessed tests and trials of newly designed arms and ammunition during his tour of the facility, according to the ISPR statement. Officials also highlighted the complex’s contribution to the country’s economy, noting that POF remains one of the largest employers connected to Pakistan’s defence-industrial base.
Quotes
According to the ISPR statement, the CDF praised POF’s contribution to both the security and economic strength of Pakistan, describing indigenous and local industries like POF Wah as central to the country’s path toward national progress. He also stressed the importance of continued investment in self-reliance and modern technology, saying it remains essential for maintaining a reliable and effective defence posture.
Officials at the facility reiterated that POF’s focus in recent years has shifted toward not just meeting domestic armed forces requirements, but also expanding its footprint as a manufacturing machine capable of competing in export markets across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Impact
For Pakistan’s broader defence industry, high-level visits of this kind typically signal continued institutional backing for indigenous production, particularly as POF and other state-owned entities move through the corporatization process under the new DIPRA framework. Observers say this restructuring could make Pakistani-made small arms and ammunition more competitive globally, building on POF’s existing reputation for producing NATO-standard ammunition and licensed variants of well-known firearm designs.
Regionally, POF’s growing small arms catalogue, including newer handgun designs like the POF X 9mm line, adds to Pakistan’s standing as a country capable of producing a full spectrum of light weapons domestically rather than relying on imports. That self-sufficiency has taken on added significance given recent geopolitical tensions in the region.
Conclusion
The visit underscores the continued importance Pakistan’s military leadership places on maintaining and modernising its indigenous defence-production base. With the corporatization process moving forward and POF continuing to unveil new products, further announcements regarding expanded manufacturing capacity or new export deals are likely in the coming months as the organisation positions itself for a larger role in the global defence market.
FAQs
Who is the current chairman of Pakistan Ordnance Factories?
Pakistan Ordnance Factories is currently headed by Lieutenant General Syed Tahir Hameed Shah, who serves as the organisation’s chairman. Like his predecessors, the chairman is typically a senior serving or recently retired Pakistan Army officer, reflecting the close institutional link between POF and the country’s armed forces, given that the organisation exists primarily to supply their equipment and ammunition needs.
What is the average salary at Pakistan Ordnance Factories?
As a state-owned enterprise under the Ministry of Defence Production, salaries at Pakistan Ordnance Factories generally follow government and defence-sector pay scales, which vary significantly depending on grade, technical qualification, and years of service. Entry-level technical and administrative staff are typically placed on standard public-sector pay scales, while specialised engineers and senior management can earn considerably more, though POF does not publicly disclose a single average salary figure for its workforce.
Is POF government or private?
Pakistan Ordnance Factories is a state-owned enterprise, fully owned and controlled by the Government of Pakistan through the Ministry of Defence Production. While the organisation has recently begun a corporatization process under the DIPRA Ordinance, aimed at giving it greater commercial and operational flexibility, ownership remains firmly with the state, and POF continues to operate primarily to serve the requirements of the Pakistan Armed Forces.
