Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers
Encyclopedia
The Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers, (Urdu: ﺁرمى انجنيرينگ كور; Army Engineering Core), is an active military administrative
(non-combatant) staff corps, and a major science and technology command of the Pakistan Army
. Although the Corps is generally associated with dams
, canals and flood protection, it performs variety of public works
for the Government of Pakistan
, only if it is ordered by the civilian Prime minister
.
Besides the performing and undertaking the combat
and military engineering operations, the Corps operates major engineering organizations such as the Military Engineering Service (MES), the Frontier Works Organisation
(FWO), Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and the Survey of Pakistan
. The Corps is commanded by a three-star general— a Lieutenant-General— who is designated as the Engineer-in-Chief
, served as the Chief Army Topographer (CAT) and consult and guide the Chief of Army Staff in the important concerning matters of science and technology. The current Engineer-in-Chief and current commander of the Corps of Engineers is Lieutenant-General Muhammad Ahsan.
Initially part of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers
which dates back to 1780, but it came in its modern form in August 14, 1947, following the birth of Pakistan. As for its war performances, the Corps took active military participation in the 1965 war, the 1971 war, the 1999 war, the 2001 standoff
and the current operations as of 2000s
. In 1960s, the Corps designed the Karakoram Highway
, at that time, one of its largest project that connects China
and Pakistan
across the Karakoram
mountain range, through the Khunjerab Pass
, at an altitude of 4693 m (15,397 ft) as confirmed by both SRTM and multiple GPS readings.
During the Kashmir earthquake of 2005
, the Corps initiated the massive and one of the largest rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in Corps history, rebuilding and redesigning the entire cities of Gilgit
and Muzaffarabad
as well as the Kashmir Province. Its speedy rehabilitation operation was completed in record time and the entire city was rebuilt in 2008. As more recently, the Corps undertook the intensive rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in deluge
in southern parts as well as recent earthquake
in Western parts.
Since its inception, the Corps has built extensive military and civilian infrastructure of Pakistan Armed Forces as well as Pakistan Government, ranging from building bridges, dams, military regional headquarters and civil corporate architectural buildings. The Corps mission has been extended with time passes, and is renowned to have designed, construct, and built the Combatant Generals' Headquarters (GHQ), ammunition plants, army cantonments, as well as Kahuta Project
and its related research facilities.
Military administration
Military administration identifies both the techniques and systems used by military departments, agencies, and Armed Services involved in the management of the armed forces...
(non-combatant) staff corps, and a major science and technology command of the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
. Although the Corps is generally associated with dams
DAMS
Driot-Arnoux Motorsport is a racing team from France, involved in many areas of motorsports. DAMS was founded in 1988 by Jean-Paul Driot and former Formula One driver René Arnoux. It is headquartered near Le Mans, only 2 km from the Bugatti Circuit.- History :The year after its foundation,...
, canals and flood protection, it performs variety of public works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
for the Government of Pakistan
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
, only if it is ordered by the civilian Prime minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
.
Besides the performing and undertaking the combat
Combat engineering
A combat engineer, also called pioneer or sapper in many armies, is a soldier who performs a variety of construction and demolition tasks under combat conditions...
and military engineering operations, the Corps operates major engineering organizations such as the Military Engineering Service (MES), the Frontier Works Organisation
Frontier Works Organisation
Frontier Works Organisation is a construction and military engineering administrative branch of the Pakistani Army that was established in 1966. It is a part of Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers and it has credited to build numerous bridges, roads, tunnels, airfields and dams in Pakistan. FWO...
(FWO), Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and the Survey of Pakistan
Survey of Pakistan
Survey of Pakistan is the sole national mapping and land surveying government agency of Pakistan. Its head of department is titles as "Surveyor General of Pakistan"....
. The Corps is commanded by a three-star general— a Lieutenant-General— who is designated as the Engineer-in-Chief
Engineer-in-Chief (Pakistan Army)
Engineer-in-Chief or E-in-C, is a Colonel Commandant of the Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers, Frontier Works Organisation and the Military Engineering Services of Pakistan...
, served as the Chief Army Topographer (CAT) and consult and guide the Chief of Army Staff in the important concerning matters of science and technology. The current Engineer-in-Chief and current commander of the Corps of Engineers is Lieutenant-General Muhammad Ahsan.
Initially part of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers
Indian Army Corps of Engineers
The Indian Army Corps of Engineers has a long and illustrious history dating back to the mid-18th century. The earliest existing subunit of the Corps dates back to 1777 while the Corps officially recognises its birth as 1780 when the senior most group of the Corps, the Madras Sappers were...
which dates back to 1780, but it came in its modern form in August 14, 1947, following the birth of Pakistan. As for its war performances, the Corps took active military participation in the 1965 war, the 1971 war, the 1999 war, the 2001 standoff
2001-2002 India-Pakistan standoff
The 2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff was a military standoff between India and Pakistan that resulted in the massing of troops on either side of the International Border and along the Line of Control in the region of Kashmir...
and the current operations as of 2000s
War in North-West Pakistan
The War in North-West Pakistan is an armed conflict between the Pakistan Armed Forces and armed religious groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan , Lashkar-e-Islam, TSNM, Arab and Central Asian militants including Al-Qaeda, regional armed movements and elements of organized crime.The armed...
. In 1960s, the Corps designed the Karakoram Highway
Karakoram Highway
The Karakoram Highway is the highest paved international road in the world, but at its peak at the China-Pakistan border it is only paved on the Chinese side. It connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range, through the Khunjerab Pass, at an altitude of as confirmed by both...
, at that time, one of its largest project that connects China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
across the Karakoram
Karakoram
The Karakoram, or Karakorum , is a large mountain range spanning the borders between Pakistan, India and China, located in the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan , Ladakh , and Xinjiang region,...
mountain range, through the Khunjerab Pass
Khunjerab Pass
Khunjerab Pass is a high mountain pass in the Karakoram Mountains in a strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region within the disputed region of Kashmir and on the southwest border of the Xinjiang region of China...
, at an altitude of 4693 m (15,397 ft) as confirmed by both SRTM and multiple GPS readings.
During the Kashmir earthquake of 2005
2005 Kashmir earthquake
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake was a major earthquake centered in Pakistan-administered Kashmir known as Azad Kashmir, near the city of Muzaffarabad, affecting Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It occurred at 08:52:37 Pakistan Standard Time on 8 October 2005...
, the Corps initiated the massive and one of the largest rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in Corps history, rebuilding and redesigning the entire cities of Gilgit
Gilgit
Gilgit is a city in northern PakistanGilgit may refer to other terms related with the area of the city:* Gilgit River* Gilgit Valley* Gilgit District* Gilgit Agency * Gilgit Airport...
and Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad is the capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located in Muzaffarabad District on the banks of the Jhelum and Neelum rivers...
as well as the Kashmir Province. Its speedy rehabilitation operation was completed in record time and the entire city was rebuilt in 2008. As more recently, the Corps undertook the intensive rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in deluge
2011 Sindh floods
The 2011 Sindh floods began during the Pakistani monsoon season in mid-August 2011, resulting from heavy monsoon rains in Sindh, eastern Balochistan, and southern Punjab. The floods have caused considerable damage; an estimated 434 civilians have been killed, with 5.3 million people and 1,524,773...
in southern parts as well as recent earthquake
2011 Pakistan earthquake
The 2011 Pakistan earthquake was a magnitude Mw 7.2 earthquake that had its epicenter 45 kilometers west of Dalbandin in Balochistan. The epicenter is located in a sparsely populated area. The United States Geological Survey reported the earthquake took place on January 18, 2011 at 20:23:17 UTC at...
in Western parts.
Since its inception, the Corps has built extensive military and civilian infrastructure of Pakistan Armed Forces as well as Pakistan Government, ranging from building bridges, dams, military regional headquarters and civil corporate architectural buildings. The Corps mission has been extended with time passes, and is renowned to have designed, construct, and built the Combatant Generals' Headquarters (GHQ), ammunition plants, army cantonments, as well as Kahuta Project
Project-706
Project-706, also known as Project-726 or as the Kahuta Project, was a science effort codename of a project conducted during the Cold War and Russo-Afghan War whose objective was to develop Pakistan' first atomic weapon. The mainstream goal of the project was the development of an atomic bomb using...
and its related research facilities.