Islamabad: Pakistan’s military is grappling with a critical shortage of artillery ammunition. According to reports, the Pakistan Army currently possesses ammunition to sustain combat for just 96 hours or 4 days, the ANI reported. This has triggered serious alarm within military circles in the neighbouring country.
The shortage stems from Pakistan’s recent arms transfers to Ukraine. The report claimed that particularly the export of 155mm artillery shells have led to the crisis. These exports, conducted amid surging global demand and lucrative contracts, have reportedly drained the country’s strategic reserves. Its powerful M109 howitzers and BM-21 rocket systems are understocked. This crisis is also being attributed to the outdated infrastructure and limited production capacity of Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF).
POF has struggled to meet the present demand, officials familiar with the matter told ANI.
The report also states that this matter was a key agenda item during a Special Corps Commanders Conference held on May 2.
Former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had previously warned of Pakistan’s limited capacity for sustained warfare. He had cautioned against both economic and logistical constraints. The country’s ongoing economic crisis with rising debt and dwindling foreign exchange reserves has forced the military to suspend training exercises. It had to even cancel scheduled war games due to fuel shortages.
However, intelligence reports indicate Pakistan has begun constructing new ammunition depots closer to the Indian border. “Pakistan sailed its ammunition to distant wars, only to find itself stranded, its arsenals empty, and its defenses teetering on the edge,” a senior defense analyst told ANI. “The pursuit of short-term economic gain has inflicted a long-term strategic wound,” he added.
Meanwhile, there is a purported document doing the rounds on social media claiming that Pakistan Army‘s corp of engineers is in deep crisis no funds with outdated gear, and poorly trained troops. Each battalion faces a PKR 6.82 lakh shortfall. However, OdishaBytes couldn’t independently verify such claims.
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LEAKED: Pakistan Army’s corp of engineers are in deep crisis
no funds, outdated gear, and poorly trained troops. Each battalion faces a PKR 6.82 lakh shortfall! They parade missiles for the world, but behind the scenes? A collapsing force. Paper tiger?#IndiaPakistanWar pic.twitter.com/LI9q4ATHMR— Abhi ™ (@Patelizm) May 4, 2025
This report comes at a time when tensions between India and Pakistan are escalating following the terror attack on Indian tourists at Pahalgam, claiming 26 lives.
