ISLAMABAD: A meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production was held wherein matters regarding Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) were discussed at length. Senate Standing Committee Chairman Abdul Qayyum presided over the meeting. Defence Production Secretary Ijaz Chaudhry and POF Board Chairman Umar Farooq Durrani briefed the committee.
Senators Hafiz Hamdullah, Nuzhat Sadiq, Gian Chand, John Kenneth Williams, Sehar Kamran and Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh attended the meeting. Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production was told that POF exported its products valuing $31.16 million to various countries in the fiscal year 2016-17 while export orders of $36.57 million were in hand. POF products valuing Rs 3230 million were provided to law enforcement agencies of the country and subsidiaries of POF sold its products valuing Rs 8603 million in local market. The commercial sales to local market touched the figure of Rs 11833 million. Law enforcement agencies placed orders for weapons & ammunition valuing Rs 3932 million, out of which products valuing Rs 3230 million were handed over to them. It is worth mentioning that during the current fiscal year, law enforcement agencies placed 25% more orders as compared to last fiscal year.
The profit earned by POF subsidiaries during financial year 2016-17 was: Wah Nobel Group of Companies with a profit of Rs1264 million, Wah Industries Ltd with a profit of Rs 609 million, Wah Brass Mills with a profit of Rs 404 million, and Hi-Tech Plastics with a profit of Rs 22 million. The total profit earned by POF subsidiaries during the fiscal year remained Rs 2299 million. Senate Standing Committee was further informed that PC-1 for Safe City Project for POF Wah, Sanjwal and Havelian were being prepared and expected to be completed by November 2017. After completion of PC-1, the case will be referred to the government for allocation of funds.
Senate Standing Committee was further told that ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, during his visit to POF in February 2017, announced a welfare package for POF employees which included 25 % of the basic pay as special allowance, advance increments and a housing scheme for POF employees. Notification for special allowance and advance increments had been issued by the government and payment in this regard was being made to the employees; while the housing scheme announced by the prime minister of Pakistan was yet to be implemented. The Senate committee was requested to extend help for approval of housing scheme for POF employees. The Senate committee expressed its satisfaction over the performance of POF. Chairman Sanding Committee Senator Abdul Qayyum remarked that POF was the mother defence production complex which had made tremendous contributions to ensure Pakistan’s national security. The committee chairman appreciated the efforts of POF board chairman and his team for the steps being taken for the progress of POF.
Published in Daily Times, October 28th 2017.
