POF Metallurgical Laboratory

The POF Metallurgical Laboratory (also known as "ML") is a multi-mission research and development laboratory located near the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) in Wah Cantonment, Punjab, Pakistan.^[1] It is a part of POF Materials Testing Laboratories (PMTL Labs).^[2]

POF Metallurgical Laboratory

Established	1972 (1972)
Field of research	Fundamental science Material Science Non-ferrous metal
Location	Wah in Punjab, Pakistan
Operating agency	Pakistan Ordnance Factories
Website	https://www.pmt-labs.com.pk/

Established in 1972 to study non-ferrous metals, it played an important role during the development of Pakistan's clandestine nuclear weapons program.^[3][4] Its activities include research into non-ferrous and ferrous metals, materials science as well as testing, accreditation and quality assurance.^[5]

History

The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) used the Metallurgical Laboratory in 1972 to conduct basic research into the chemistry and physical metallurgy of non-ferrous metals. Dr. Khalil Qureshi played a pioneering role as the lab's principal investigator.^[6][7]

The lab also undertook classified studies, as codename: Wah Group Scientists, in designing and developing the non-nuclear physical components and performing metallurgy testing of explosives to be used in nuclear devices under Dr. Zaman Sheikh, a physical chemist.^[8] The importance of its work in materials science and understanding the chemistry and metallurgy of plutonium evolved in the Metallurgical Laboratory into a critical laboratory, similar to the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology.^[7] Due to the sensitivity of the projects and security concerns of scientists at the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), the program was definitely moved to KRL in the 1980s.^[4]

Current Role

These days POF Metallurgical Laboratory offers a variety of material testing services, including:^[1][9]

• Metallographic testing: This examines the microstructure of metals and alloys to understand their properties and behavior.
• Chemical analysis: This determines the elemental composition of a material.
• Mechanical testing: This evaluates the mechanical properties of a material, such as its strength, ductility, and hardness.
• Testing for ferrous and non-ferrous materials: ML can test both iron-based (ferrous) and non-iron-based (non-ferrous) metals and alloys.

Accreditations

The lab is accredited by various accreditation bodies including PNAC^[10] and ISO 14001:2004 by TUV Austria Bureau.

Customers

Following industries utilize the services of ML:

• Automobile industry
• Research Institute
• Oil and gas Industries
• Defense production
• Manufacturing units
• Research & Development
• Steel industries