Pakistan's Weapons Manufacturing Industry - An example of Self reliance

Self reliance in weapons manufacturing is the backbone of any country to maintain its sovereignty and freedom and strong defense against their enemies, all the threats whether it is foreign or domestic. Weapon manufacturing is also an industry which can grow country's economy on a vast scale. Pakistan is listed in those few Muslim countries which have the ability to produce their own defense equipments and weapons. Pakistan has achieved many milestones in the development of modern weaponry systems including Missiles, Battle Ships, Submarines, Fighter and Training Aircrafts, Arms and Ammunition and Heavy Artillery.

Pakistan is the first Muslim country, accepted globally as seventh nuclear power of the world. This was like a dream come true and it became possible by our engineers and scientists hard work, efforts, dedication, self confidence, patriotism and all of the above by the grace of God. Pakistan became nuclear power in such a worst economic condition of the country and there were also the international pressure against Pakistan's nuclear program due to which we were sanctioned many times internationally.

Some of the leading institutes of weapons and military hardware manufacturing and research and development are:

Armament Research & Development Establishment
Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), since its inception in 1974 has been undertaking research and development in the field of arms and ammunitions and has contributed significantly in establishing development and production base through collaboration with public and private sectors. Major accomplishments of ARDE are weapons and tank ammunition.

Defence Science & Technology Organization
Rawalpindi, Pakistan

The Defence Science & Technology Organization (DESTO) is the premier defence Research and Development organization of Defence Production Division, Ministry of Defence, Government of Pakistan. DESTO conducts research and development around weapons and weapon systems and renders professional advice on the application of science and technology. DESTO’s research and development environment covers a wide spectrum of fields, under the broad disciplines of aerodynamics, propulsion, defence electronics, computer systems, engineering, propellants, explosives, materials and chemical & biological defence etc.

Institute of Optronics
Ministry of Defence, Chaklala-Rawalpindi, Pakistan

 Institute of Optronics (IOP) has established state-of-the-art military specifications production and testing facilities of night vision devices, based on Image Intensifier Tubes. The Night Vision Systems, without turning the night into day, vastly improve the ability of the Armed Forces to undertake a number of vital functions related to force effectiveness. Command and control, surveillance, movements both tactical and logistical and accuracy of firepower are some of the areas of activities in which the Night Vision Devices are playing a formidable and vital role.

An indigenization programme to progressively develop and manufacture components in Pakistan for night vision systems is being vigorously pursued. The future plans of this institute include the establishment of facilities for night vision devices based on Thermal Imaging Techniques for all types of armoured vehicles and helicopters. 

Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Ltd.
Karachi, Pakistan

KSEW is ISO - 9002 Certified for Shipbuilding, Submarine & Warship Construction and General Engineering Works. The present services are:

Shipbuilding of all types of vessels and craft of upto 26,000 TDW
Small submarines and warship / support craft like Missile Craft, Patrol Craft, Diving Boats, Towed Array Barge, Floating Docks, Berthing / Pusher Tugs, Oil / Water carriers, boats etc.
Underwater repairs of ships of upto 26,000 TDW and above water repairs to any type or size
Wide variety of engineering plants and machinery like tankages, pressure vessels, LPG storage tanks, overhead, luffing and other types of electrically operated cranes, equipment of oil, gas, petrochemical industries, steel structures for dams, barrages, thermal power plants and similar other industrial plants, components for cement mills, complete sugar plants, Firetube boilers, watertube boilers etc.
Iron castings of upto 15 tons a piece, steel castings of upto 3 tons a piece and non-ferrous / alloy castings of upto 750 kg a piece

Military Vehicles Research And Development Establishment
Rawalpindi, Pakistan

MVRDE is a multi-disciplinary organization capable of conducting research and development pertaining to military vehicles, engineers equipment and defence-related mechanical systems.

Its infrastructure encompasses a wide spectrum of facilities under following broad categories:

R & D Sections
To carry out design, development and product up gradation in following categories:
Armoured Vehicles - Tanks, APCs, ARVs
Wheeled Vehicles - GS and special Purpose
Engineers Equipment - Earthmoving machinery, Cranes etc.

National Development Complex
Islamabad, Pakistan

National Development Complex (NDC) was created with an objective of developing an infrastructure for indigenous weapons development, provision of technical services, and achieving self-reliance in diverse technologies related to these areas. NDC is delivering reliable and state-of-the-art weapon systems and military hardware at competitive prices. Since its creation, NDC has made remarkable progress in developing and producing a diverse range of defence products.

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
Kamra District Attock, Pakistan

Since inauguration of the first of its four factories in 1978, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex has not looked back. In the two decades, it has vastly expanded the scope of work, commenced new and more challenging projects, created a veritable centre of excellence in military aviation and information technology, and above all, realised the original goal of self-reliance. Ever since its inception, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex has become the backbone of Pakistan Air Force in maintenance; supporting its major weapon systems by providing rebuild services for aircraft, engines and components; providing spare support, structural repairs and major rectification. Manufacture of Mushshak aircraft and collaboration with China in K-8 jet trainer programme are landmark achievements of PAC which have lent tremendous creditability to this industry.

More recently PAC has also ventured into the area of system upgrades and manufacture of airborne avionics systems in partnership with some foreign collaborations. Having acquired necessary resources and expertise. PAC is fast expanding its role and making all-out efforts to turn itself into a self-supporting outfit. Already, it is ensuring that the country spends least amount of foreign exchange on maintenance of the PAF fleet of fighter and trainer aircraft. Except for import of certain essential spares, rest everything is produced or repaired locally. 

Pakistan Navy Dockyard
Karachi, Pakistan

PN Dockyard since its inception in 1952 has been undertaking repair works, modernization and rebuild of PN Ships, Submarines and Crafts. Pakistan Navy Dockyard is providing technical assistance, rebuild and repair of a wide range and diversity of equipment of PN Fleet and has undertaken fleet modernization and up gradation programmes with success. PN Dockyard has developed capability to undertake ambitious and indigenous construction projects like Missiles Boats, Mines Counter Measure Vessel (MCMV) and AGOSTA 90 - B Submarine.

Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF)
Wah Cantonnement, Pakistan

In 1947 at the time of independence, Pakistan could not get even a single Ordnance Factory. First Prime Minister conceived a Plan in December 1947 and decided to establish an Ordnance Factory. The second Prime Minister inaugurated Civil Works for four Factories at Wah in December 1951, 36 kilometers north of present Federal Capital Islamabad. POF of the late fifties was producing .303 Rifle, its ammunition, 25 Pounder Artillery ammunition, 40 mm Anti Aircraft ammunition, M36 hand grenade, 2”and 3” Mortar Bombs and 500 lbs and 750 lbs Aircraft Bombs. It was a turning point in the history of POF as it went through modernization and expansion over the next two and half decades. Today POF is a gigantic industrial complex with fourteen factories and eight subsidiaries employing a total work force of over 33,000.

Dr A Q Khan Research Laboratories
 Kahuta, Pakistan

The KRL is one of the largest science and technology institutions in Pakistan, and conducts multidisciplinary research and development in fields such as national security, space exploration, and supercomputing. The KRL performs variety of weapons science and engineering projects for Pakistan Defense Forces.

Since 1980s, the KRL is involved in numerous military equipment and conventional weaponry development projects. The resulting systems have been put into service by the Pakistan's military and exported to other friendly nations.

Pakistan is manufacturing from a bullet to ballistic missile, from a grenade to nuclear weapons, from training aircrafts to supersonic fighter jets and this is just a beginning.