Wah Cantonment

The Wah Cantonment (Punjabi: واہ چھاونی; Urdu: واہ کینٹ) (often abbreviated to Wah Cantt) is a Class I Civilian Cantonment in Punjab, Pakistan.^[2] It is the 17th most populous city in Punjab and 24th most populous city in Pakistan with a population of 400,733 people^[3][4] It is located on the historic Grand Trunk Road. It has one of the highest literacy rates in Pakistan, likely exceeding 99%.^[5] It spans over 14,433 Acres or 58 square kilometers.^[2]

It was termed as a "Model Education City" by Shaukat Aziz, former Prime Mnister of Pakistan.^[6] The cantonment headquarters Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF). It is located 30 km (19 mi) northwest of the capital city of Islamabad.

Previously known as Jalal Sar, Mughal Emperor Jahangir coined the term 'Wah' which translates to 'Wow' (Urdu: واہ). In his biography, Tuzk-e-Jahangiri, Mughal Emperor Jahangir recounts while returning from an expedition on 29 April 1607 he visited the natural springs at Mughal Gardens Wah and uttered the words 'Wah' as admiration. Subsequently, people begain referring to the area as 'Wah'.^[7][8] Jahangir wrote the following in Tuzk-e-Jahangiri.

On Wednesday the 12th (of 1607) the camp was at Bābā Ḥasan Abdāl. One kos (Approx. 3.2 KM) to the east of this station there is a waterfall over which the stream rushes with great force. There is no fall like it on the way to Kabul. On the road to Kashmir there are two or three like it. In the middle of the basin, in which is the source of the stream, Rāja Mān Singh has erected a small building. There are many fish in the basin of the length of a quarter guz (Approx. 9 Inches). I halted three days at this enchanting place, drinking wine with those who were intimate with me and employing myself in catching fish. Until now I had never thrown a sufra net, which is a famous kind of net, and which in Hindi they call bhanwar jāl. It is not easy to throw. I threw it with my own hand and caught twelve fish, and putting pearls into their noses, let them loose in the water.^[9][10][11]

The word 'Cantonment' (shortened as Cantt) was added in December 1951 when Pakistan's second Prime Minister, Khawaja Nazimuddin, inaugurated the first four workshops of POF.^[12][13]

Wah Cantonment is situated along the historic Grand Trunk Road, one of the oldest trade corridor in South-Asia dating back to 2500 years that connected the Central Asia to South Asia.

The region surrounding Wah has been a cradle of history for millennia, lying close to the heartland of the Gandhara Civilisation, famed for its Buddhist art, culture, and scholarship between the 1st millennium BCE and the early centuries CE. Archaeological remains, stupas, and relics from Gandhara still exist in the wider Taxila–Wah area.

The Mughal invasion of this area had a significant impact on the architecture of the village and surrounding areas which is visible in historic landmarks such as Wah Gardens. Which has hosted multiple mughal emperors and other notable mughal figures such as Jahangir, Shah jahan, Aurangzeb and Raja Man Singh I.

In 1849, as the aftermath of the Sikh Empire's deafeat in the Second Anglo-Sikh war, the region was brought under British rule.^[14]

During this time the Pakistan's oldest Cement Plant, the Associate Cement Company (ACC) was also established in Wah in 1921. At the time of Partition, it was only one of four cement plants in Pakistan. This cement plant was designed by FLSmidth & Co.^[15]

During January 1996, Askari Welfare Trust acquired 80% equity stake in Wah Cement Company Ltd (erstwhile ACC) under government's privatisation policy in an open bid.^[15] Following the 2022 amalgamation of the Askari Cement and Fauji Cement Company Limited (FCCL) companies, Askari Cement's Wah plant is now part of Fauji Cement Company Limited (FCCL) portfolio which is a listed company on PSX & a component of KSE 100 Index.

As a result of the 1947 Rawalpindi Massacares, multiple Sikhs & Hindus were left homeless and destitute.^[16] Refugee camp was set-up at Wah Cantonment.^[17] Plausibly at the Askari Cement Wah Plant (erstwhile Associated Cement Company) that was established in 1921.^[18][19] Historical accounts suggest that the numbers of Refugees hosted by Wah Cantonment were up to 12,000.^[20]

At the time of partition in 1947, the Indian sub-continent had 16 ordnance factories. All those sixteen factories fell to Indian share during partition since none of them were located in Pakistan's territory. Newly created Pakistan with fragile state apparatus and fragmented Armed Forces, had absolutely no arms and ammunition manufacturing facility to meet the security challenges to its sovereignty.

Liaqat Ali Khan, who was the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, immediately realized this imbalance and issued a directive within four months of creation of Pakistan to establish an ordnance factory in collaboration with UK's Royal Ordnance factories to manufacture .303 in. calibre rifles and its ammunition in Rawalpindi. The second Prime Minister, Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din, later performed the groundbreaking ceremony on 28 December 1951 for four workshops of Pakistan Ordnance Factories at Wah Cantonment^[21]

From thereon, Pakistan Ordnance Factories has become an industrial complex that compromises 14 production factories and 12 commercial entities exporting weapons, armaments and chemicals to 40 countries.^[22] One of the commercial entities operating under POF includes Wah Nobel Chemcicals Pvt. Ltd. which is a listed company on Pakistan Stock Exchange and a joint venture between Pakistan Ordnance Factories (Pakistan), SAAB (Sweden), Al-Misehal (Saudi Arabia).

In 1972, a metallurgy laboratory, now a part of POF Materials Testing Laboratory, was established at Wah Cantonment to study non-ferrous metals.^[23] Soon after Hafeez Qureshi, Director General of Radiation Isotope Application Division (RIAD), alongside Zaman Sheikh from Defense Science and Technology Organization (DESTO), joined the metallurgy laboratory which lead to the creation of a small covert directorate codenamed "Wah Group Scientists (WGS)" at POF Metallurgical Laboratory in Wah Cantt that worked at the metallurgical aspect of Pakistan's nuclear devices.^[24][25][24] At the laboratory, several sessions were in secret on the feasibility of the nuclear device between the Wah Group Scientist with Abdus Salam and Riazuddin of Theoretical Physics Group; Asghar Qadir and Munir Ahmad Rashid of the Mathematical Physics Group; Ishfaq Ahmad of Nuclear Physics Division.^[26] During the meeting, the word "bomb" was never used, instead the scientists used scientific research rationale to cover the nature of work being done.^[27] At Wah Group Scientists, the scientists decided to develop an Implosion-type nuclear device over the gun-type nuclear device citing economy in the use of fissile material.^[28]

The Wah Group Scientists were tasked to design, engineer, and machine the design components, tampers, and explosive lenses necessary for detonation of the nuclear device.^[29] Since the testing facilities in PINSTECH Nilore lacked, Metallurgy Laboratory performed several explosives experiments and chemistry measurements in cooperation with the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), which was the source of providing the explosives, in 1976.^[30] By 1979, the Wah Group Scientists, under Hafeez and Sheikh, had developed the wide range of explosive lenses, design components finished on the CNC, the polymer-based high explosive materials, and triggering mechanisms.^[30]

According to 2023 census, Wah Cantt had a population of 400,733.^[32]

In the 2023 census, 62.48% of the population identified their mother tongue as Punjabi, 15.39% as Urdu, 14.45% as Pashto, 3.70% as Hindko, 1.24% as Kashmiri, 0.93% as Saraiki 1.81% spoke other minor languages (mostly Sindhi and Balti).^[a][33]

On an Official Visit on 10 January 2005 the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz, while speaking to the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) employees, said Wah Cantt possessed ideal education and health facilities and that he was impressed with the literacy rate of the city.^[6]

Owing to this prestigious distinction in the education sector, I declare Wah Cantt as model education city of the country - Shaukat Aziz^[6]

Wah Cantt boasts one of the highest literacy rates in Pakistan, reportedly exceeding 99.99%.^[34][35] The city is home to a wide range of educational institutions, including universities, medical colleges, and technical institutes. Prominent establishments include the

• University of Wah
• COMSATS University Islamabad (Wah Campus)
• Wah Medical College
• Wah Engineering College

Established by the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) as a social welfare initiative. The library was inaugurated on 9 October 1984 by Maj. Gen. Talat Masood, HI(M), Sbt. (Later Lt. Gen.). The POF Central Library is a repository boasting books and periodicals in excess of 58,000 and is located on Quaid Avenue.^[36] The library also maintains 5 reading rooms throughout various parks in the city.^[37]

The Federal Government Educational Institutions Directorate maintains its second-largest regional education network in Wah Cantt. Established in 1984, the Regional Office Wah oversees FGEI's institutions in Wah Cantt, Taxila Cantt, Kamra Cantt and Havelian Cantt. The region comprises 42 schools and 4 colleges serving a student population of over 33,000 with approximately 1,400 faculty members.^[38] Prominent institutions of the FGEI (C/G) network are as follows

The college was established as C.B. Intermediate College in 1964 and subsequently raised to the degree level in 1978. Its administrative control was entrusted to the Federal Ministry of Education after Nationalization of Cantt Boards Educational Institutions in 1975. Subsequently, the institute was given under the Army Education Directorate in 1977. All the Federal Government Educational Institutions have been handed over to the Ministry of Defence since 1992 and are controlled by the Directorate of Federal Government Educational Institutions, Rawalpindi.^[39]

The school was initially established under Cantonment Board as Junior Public School in 1952. Later, It was upgraded as Secondary Public School in 1958. Due to nationalization, in 1975, this school was taken over by Federal Government Educational Institutions, Islamabad. Finally, it was handed over to Federal Government Educational Institutions (C/G) Directorate under GHQ (Rawalpindi).^[40] In 1981 this Public School was bifurcated in augurated as FG Public High School Wah Cantt and FG Junior Public School Wah Cantt.^[41] The school was offering co-education since its inception. In the year 1999, a board was constituted at regional level to assess the feasibility of a separate Girl's High School. Consequently, the bifurcated Junior Public School portion was transformed into FG Public School No. 6 (Girls), Wah Cantt.^[40][41]

Wah Gardens (Urdu: واہ باغ), also known as Mughal Garden Wah (Urdu: مغل گارڈن واہ), is a garden-complex dating created by Raja Man Singh, brother-in-law and court chief of Emperor Jahangir. These gardens have hosted multiple Mughal Emperors including Jahangir (1607), Shah Jahan (1639, 1646, 1647, 1649, 1654) and Aurangzeb (1676).

Sultan Sher Shah Suri, who built the famous Grand Trunk Road (GT Road), built a 'Baoli' or stepwell alongside the historic Grank Trunk road. It is said that the 'Baoli' was built for Sher Shah's horses used to drink water. Currently, the Baoli stands preserved as a remanent of the Suri Empire in a park named Sher Shah Suri park in honour of the Suri Emperor.^[42]

Jamia Masjid Wah Cantt (also known as Markazi Jamia Masjid Wah Cantt) is the principal congregational mosque of Wah Cantt, located on Quaid Avenue. The mosque was inaugurated by the then President of Pakistan, General Muhammad Ayub Khan (later Field Marshal), on 5 April 1959.

The mosque draws heavy inspiration from Mughal architecture, particularly resembling Lahore's iconic Badshahi Mosque. The mosque features a traditional Mughal layout with a large rectangular courtyard, a triple-dome prayer hall, and two prominent minarets flanking the structure. The mosque also acts as a seminary and offers Hifz-ul-Qur’an programs to students.

During special occasions like Mawlid (12 Rabi‑ul‑Awal) and Independence Day (14 August), the mosque is illuminated with decorative lighting, drawing large crowds of local residents each year.

The city of Wah Cantonment is served by three railway stations, operated by Pakistan Railways, all three are located along the Karachi–Peshawar main line, also known as Main Line 1, and were constructed and inaugurated during the British Raj.

This railway station was established in the late 19th century during British Raj and began operations in 1913. The station is defunt now and in a state of disrepair. However, through its life its primary function was to help Pakistan Ordnance Factories with logistical support transporting the armaments produced.

This railway station was established in 1881 during the British Raj. It is the penultimate railway station of Rawalpindi Division.

Wah Railway Station opened in 1909, it is the largest amongst the three railway stations located in Wah Cantt.

Wah Cantonment is a hub of organized sporting activity, largely shaped by the facilities of the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF).

Wah Cantonment hosted Pakistan's first international women's squash WISPA (Women's International Squash Player's Association) tournament, the POF-WISPA event, held from 28 August to 2 September 2005 at the Jahangir Khan Squash Complex.^[43] The tournament featured international players from Pakistan, England, Malaysia, Denmark, South Korea, and India, and offered prize money around US$7,000. England-based Pakistani squasher Carla Khan won the title, defeating Malaysian Sharon Wee in the final with a score of 9–1, 9–4, 9–3—without dropping a single set. The president of World Squash Federation Jahangir Khan attended the event as chief guest.^[44]

The event was hosted at the POF Sports Complex from May 2–6, this regional championship attracted six national teams: Pakistan, India, Iran, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Pakistan defended its title by defeating India 50–31 in the final. Pakistan also defeated Iran 47–22 in the opening match and beat Sri Lanka 56–23 during the event.^[45] The tournament was televised by PTV Sports.

On 21 August 2008, two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the gates of the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) killing 70 people and injuring more than 100.^[46] The bombers blew themselves up outside factory at 2:35 PM when hundreds of workers were leaving after a shift change. Most of the victims were civilian workers.^[47]

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan of Baitullah Mehsud claimed responsibility for the attack. Maulvi Omar, a spokesman for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, said his group the Tehrik-e-Taliban had carried out the attacks, which he said were in response to military operations against militants in the Bajaur region.

A total of three suicide bombers were to blast themselves. The two suicide bombers, named Murad and Sowrat Khan, were 15 and 18. Whereas the third bomber, and the mastermind, was 20 years old Hameedullah.^[48][49] The first explosion took place outside the gate of Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) and it was followed by an equally powerful blast at the same gate by the second bomber, located close to the bustling Aslam Market. Witnesses said the bombers were on foot and they exploded themselves within a minute of each other.

Whereas, the third bomber and mastermind, Hameedullah, was tasked to bomb Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) hospital. His plan was to detonate his suicide west at Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) hospital where all the injured workers were being rushed for medical attention and their families were coming to attend them. However, after witnessing his fellow bombers being pulverised due to the suicide attack they carried out, Hameedullah lost his nerve. He abandoned his vest in the toilet of a mosque in a nearby market and tried to flee by a taxi. Soon after, Hameedullah was apprehended while fleeing by a taxi, law-enforcement agencies seized the explosive-vest that he had left in a toilet at a mosque in Aslam Market.^[50][46]

Hameedullah was convicted on 29 January 2011 on account of 69 charges laid against him by the prosecution. These chargesheet laid against the terrorist included following sections from Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860), 302 (Murder), 324 (Attempted murder), 435 (Mischief by fire or explosive substance with an intent to cause damage), 436 (Mischief by fire or explosive substance with an intent to destroy), 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy), Aswell as, Sections 3 and 4 of Explosive Act,1884 and section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. Accordingly, an Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi awarded the third would-be bomber with capital punishment.^[49]

During investigation Hameedullah later on revealed that a fourth would-be bomber named Bakhtiar was also supposed to blow himself.^[51] However, notwithstanding the criminal confessions made by Hameedullah himself and extensive evidence adduced against Hameedullah by the Prosecution. On 14 January 2025, the three judge bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, headed by Justice Athar Minullah, overturned the death sentence of Hameedullah citing "Deficient Investigation" and acquitted Hameedullah.^[52]

During a routine checking of passenger vehicles, near Mughal Gardens Wah, by police coming from Peshawar on the GT Road, a 25-year-old man tried to sneak out from a passenger van coming from the KP and tried to board a Rawalpindi-bound passenger bus. As policemen tried to search the man, he shouted “get away from me” and hurled a hand-grenade at the policemen, but it missed the target and exploded a few metres away, injuring three members of a family. As the bomber made a dash for nearby fields, policemen fired warning shots to stop him, but he ignored the shots and then ran towards Jhatla village. As policemen closed in on him, he blew himself up with a hand grenade.^[53][54]

A locally made explosive, carrying half kilogram of explosive, ball bearings, metal pieces, a circuit and fire crackers was spotted by students at a bus stop near their school at around 7:30 AM. The students swiftly reported the "bag" to their teacher who contacted local administration and police. Military officials arrived soon after and shifted the suspicious bag to a nearby ground. The bomb disposal squad personnel who were called from Rawalpindi reached the scene at around 10 AM and discovered explosives inside it which they managed to defuse.^[55][56]

A giant plume of smoke alongside a powerful shockwave, that shattered multiple windows, shook Wah Cantt in the evening hours of 12 August 2021,. Later on, Inter-Services Public Relations confirmed that an accident had occurred at one of Pakistan Ordnance Factories' RDX plant due to a technical fault. This incident ended up claimng the lives of three workers while two others were critically injured. The injured were swiftly shifted to POF Hospital whereas Pakistan Ordnance Factories' Emergency Response Team swiftly responded and contained the explosion.^[57][58]

Following is the list of notable people that are either born in, associated with, or died in Wah cantonment

• Sardar Liaqat Hayat Khan, KCIE, OBE, Ex-PM of Patiala State^[59]
• Nawab Muhammad Hyat Khan, CSI^[59]
• Muhammad Hafeez Qureshi, NI, SI, HI
• General (R) Syed Nadeem Raza, NI(M), HI(M), Ex-CJSC
• Lt. Gen. (R) Ahsan Azhar Hayat Khan, HI(M)
• Syed Sohail Hussain Naqvi, SI, Ex-Rector LUMS
• Olympian Zakir Hussain, Gold Medalist^[60]
• Dr. Abdul Hafeez, Radio Chemist
• Fida Ur Rehman, Pakistani footballer
• Major Atif-ur-Rehman Shaheed, Pakistan Army Aviation^[61][62]
• Syed Manzoor-ul-Konain, Naat Reciter, Pride of Performance.^[63]
• Syed Zabeeb Madood, prominent Naat Reciter^[64]
• Baadshah Pehalwan Khan, professional wrestler^[65][66]

• Media related to Wah Cantonment at Wikimedia Commons
• Wah Cantt travel guide from Wikivoyage