WAH CANTT, Jan 10: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz announced the establishment of a labour colony here on Monday, for which the land would be provided by the management of Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) and funding would be provided by the Worker Welfare Board under the ministry of labour.

Speaking to the POF employees here, the prime minister said Wah Cantt possessed ideal education and health facilities and he was impressed with the 96 per cent literary rate in this city.

"Owing to this prestigious distinction in the education sector, I declare Wah Cantt as model education city of the country," he said. He also announced a bonus equal to one-month salary for the POF employees.

The prime minister termed the POF island of excellence and its workers the silent soldier. He said he saluted their services rendered to made defence of country unbeatable.

He said he was much impressed with the development of the POF, as it was the first state institute which has adopted the policy of self- reliance and generating of own resources to meet its demands.

APP ADDS: Earlier, the prime minister was briefed about the POF and the measures taken to cut down expenses, enhance quality and increase profits. POF Chairman Maj-Gen Muhammad Khalid said the POF had achieved several ISO quality certifications and exports in the current financial year were touching Rs54.684 million, a quantum jump from Rs6.18million in 2003-04.

Similarly, a number of cost cutting measures like value addition, utilisation of idle capacity of factories were introduced with an improved savings of Rs346.26 million.

Prime Minister later went around four factories to meet the workers and to appreciate their skills. He also test-fired the locally made G-3 assault rifle and 12.7mm heavy machine-gun.