POF Eye

Lore & Background

The POF Eye was developed by Pakistan Ordnance Factories, with the project designed and supervised by Dr. Muhammad Ayaz Khan, chief member of the board of directors of POF. According to designer Ashfaq Ahmad, overall designing and finalizing of the gun took six months. Chairman of the POF board, Lt. Gen. Syed Sabahat Husain, told visiting delegates at IDEAS 2008 that the new product may meet the requirements of law enforcing agencies to curb terrorist activities. A live demonstration was shown to delegates at the exhibition.

Unlike the Cornershot, which is chiefly made of plastic, the POF Eye is constructed entirely of metal. Its lower receiver is based on POF's MP5 clones and the stock is similar to the Galil. The system includes a small high-resolution camera, laser sight, and a colour LCD monitor, enabling forces to scan an area and broadcast footage in real time to the operating team or a command post monitor. Its head can turn 75 degrees.

As of 2014, the POF Eye had been sold to Pakistani security forces. In 2015, General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi, the then-Malaysian Army chief, visited POF to examine the weapon. On February 13, 2018, the Eye was featured in a POF documentary. POF conducted training sessions to help law enforcement agencies in Pakistan familiarize themselves with the weapon.

Reader's Guide

The POF Eye represents a significant development in Pakistan's indigenous defense manufacturing, offering a specialized tool for urban combat and counter-terrorism. Its all-metal construction distinguishes it from similar foreign designs, and its integrated camera and LCD monitor allow operators to engage targets from cover, reducing risk in hostage rescue and close-quarters operations. The system's availability in multiple configurations—including 9 mm pistol, sub-machine gun, and grenade launcher—provides flexibility for different tactical scenarios. While the weapon was initially revealed in 2008 and sold to Pakistani security forces by 2014, its adoption by other countries remains limited, though Malaysian military interest was noted in 2015. The POF Eye underscores Pakistan Ordnance Factories' efforts to meet domestic law enforcement needs and potentially enter the international market for specialized anti-terrorist weapons. Its design, completed in six months, reflects a focused development cycle aimed at addressing specific operational requirements of SWAT and special forces teams.

Origins & Development

The POF Eye traces its genesis to Pakistan Ordnance Factories, where the project was conceived and overseen by Dr. Muhammad Ayaz Khan, who served as chief member of the POF board of directors. According to Ashfaq Ahmad, one of the designers involved, the entire process from initial concept to finalised design spanned approximately six months—a remarkably compressed timeline for a weapon of this complexity. The system made its public debut at the 5th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar, commonly known as IDEAS 2008, which took place at the Karachi Expo Centre in November 2008. POF Chairman Lt. Gen. Syed Sabahat Husain personally addressed the visiting delegates, explaining how the new product could help law-enforcement agencies curb terrorist activity. A live demonstration of the weapon was staged for the assembled audience, drawing keen interest from both domestic and international participants. In the period following the exhibition, POF organised dedicated training sessions so that Pakistani law-enforcement units could become proficient with the system before it entered wider service.

Design & Technology

Where the original Cornershot relied heavily on plastic components, the POF Eye is built entirely from metal, giving it a more rugged and durable profile. Its lower receiver draws on the design language of MP5-pattern rifles, while the stock echoes the shape of the Galil. The weapon's most distinctive feature is its integrated surveillance suite: a small high-resolution camera paired with a laser sight and a colour LCD monitor. This combination allows operators to scan a room or corridor from a safe distance, identify a target, and then engage without exposing themselves. The footage can be broadcast in real time to the operating team positioned behind cover or to a Command Post monitor. The camera head articulates through a 75-degree arc, providing a wide field of observation. By 2016 the system had been updated to incorporate an infrared camera with a 20-metre effective range and a video-transmission link good for 400 metres. The operator views the feed through an LCD screen carried on the back of the body, with an ocular device strapped to the helmet. A swappable battery pack, worn on a vest, keeps the electronics running and can be replaced quickly in the field.

Operational Role & Variants

The POF Eye was conceived as a special-purpose, hand-held CornerShot weapon system intended for the most dangerous close-quarters scenarios: counter-terrorism raids, hostage-rescue operations, and urban combat. Its primary users are SWAT teams and special-forces units operating in hostile environments where a direct line of sight to a target is impossible or too dangerous to attempt. Rather than being a single fixed configuration, the Eye is offered in several variants that allow the user to match the weapon to the mission. The firing module can be fitted with a standard 9 mm semi-automatic pistol for precision single-shot engagements, a sub-machine gun for sustained suppressive fire, or a grenade launcher for breaching and area-denial tasks. This modularity means a single platform can serve multiple tactical roles within the same unit. The combination of remote visual acquisition and a selectable weapon module makes the Eye a purpose-built tool for situations where speed, safety, and flexibility are paramount.

Adoption & International Interest

Following its 2008 debut, the POF Eye steadily moved from exhibition floor to operational service. By 2014 the weapon had been purchased by Pakistani security forces, confirming that it had passed from a promising prototype into a trusted piece of equipment for domestic counter-terrorism work. The system also attracted attention well beyond Pakistan's borders. In 2015, General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi, who at the time held the position of Malaysian Army chief, made a visit to the Pakistan Ordnance Factories specifically to examine the Eye in person, underscoring the weapon's appeal to neighbouring militaries. POF had signalled its intention to accept orders from both local and international buyers once mass production was underway, and the keen interest shown by delegates at IDEAS 2008 suggested a ready market. The weapon's profile was further raised on 13 February 2018, when it featured in a POF-produced documentary, ensuring that the system's capabilities remained visible to potential customers and defence observers alike.