Pakistan Ordnance Factories

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.

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.

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.