Asim Munir Reviews Locally Made Weapons, Defence Production at POF Wah
WAH, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir visited Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) in Wah, where he reviewed production capabilities, export potential and efforts to expand Pakistan’s indigenous defence manufacturing, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.
During the visit, Munir was briefed on different aspects of POF’s operations and its role in supporting Pakistan’s defence industrial base through the domestic development and production of military equipment.
He also witnessed tests and trials of locally designed and manufactured arms and ammunition, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) account carried by state and national media.
POF’s Production and Export Potential Reviewed
The visit focused on three major areas: POF’s existing production capabilities, its potential for defence exports and its contribution to Pakistan’s broader defence-industrial infrastructure.
POF Wah is described by the military as Pakistan’s largest defence industrial complex and produces a range of arms, ammunition and associated military equipment.
Officials briefed Munir on the organisation’s manufacturing operations as well as efforts to increase the domestic development of defence equipment.
The emphasis on indigenous production reflects Pakistan’s broader objective of reducing reliance on imported military equipment in areas where domestic manufacturing capacity can be developed.
Munir Witnesses Trials of Locally Made Arms
A key part of the visit involved trials of weapons and ammunition designed and manufactured domestically.
Munir witnessed the testing of these systems and was briefed on initiatives aimed at technological innovation, self-reliance and increased defence-production capacity.
Neither the ISPR account nor the reports reviewed for this article publicly identified the specific weapon models involved in the trials.
For that reason, the systems should be described as locally designed and manufactured arms and ammunition, rather than assigning particular weapon names, ranges or technical capabilities that have not been officially disclosed.
Two New Industrial Plants Planned
Munir was also briefed on an expansion programme involving the installation of two new industrial plants at POF.
According to ISPR, the facilities form part of ongoing indigenisation and upgrading efforts and are expected to begin production by the end of 2026.
The announcement indicates that POF is seeking to increase its industrial capacity alongside technological modernisation.
However, the military statement did not publicly provide detailed information about what the two plants will manufacture, their production capacity or their investment cost.
The facilities should therefore be treated as planned production expansions rather than operational plants at this stage.
POF Corporatisation Process Reviewed
Another focus of the visit was the ongoing corporatisation of POF following the enactment of the DIPRA Ordinance.
Munir was given an overview of progress under the new structure and briefed on efforts to modernise the organisation and improve industrial capacity.
Corporatisation can involve changes in governance, management, financial structures and commercial operations, but the publicly released account of Saturday’s visit did not provide detailed performance data on the process.
The development should therefore be reported as an ongoing restructuring initiative rather than a completed transformation.
Defence Self-Reliance Remains Central Focus
ISPR said the visit underscored the military’s commitment to strengthening self-reliance, indigenous production and technological innovation within Pakistan’s defence sector.
Domestic defence production can potentially reduce dependence on foreign suppliers while also creating export opportunities, although the commercial performance of individual defence products depends on international demand, regulatory requirements and government-to-government agreements.
The visit comes as Pakistan continues to strengthen defence cooperation with international partners. Earlier this week, Pakistan and Kuwait agreed to expand cooperation under their defence framework, including training and capacity building.
Saturday’s POF visit, however, was primarily focused on domestic manufacturing, indigenisation, production expansion and export potential, rather than the announcement of a new foreign defence agreement.
No new weapons procurement deal or defence export contract was announced as part of the visit.
