XXXI Corps (Pakistan)
The XXXI Corps is a field corps of the Pakistan Army, currently stationed in Bahawalpur, Punjab in
Pakistan. [2]
It is currently commanded by Lt-Gen. Muhammad Aqeel as of 2025.
History
The XXXI Corps was formed and raised as part of the major reorganization of the Pakistani military
in 1985– it was one of the three corps that were formed to address the security in the country.[3] The
XXXI Corps took over the area of responsibility of southern region of Punjab from the II Corps, which
is more well suited for forestry warfare techniques.[2] It was initially headquartered in Pano Akil but
later moved to Bahawalpur Cantonment as the corps headquarter.[4] Together with the V Corps in
Sindh, the XXXI Corps is responsible for the maneuvering combat readiness in the southern Punjab's
desert zone.[2]
In 2023, 35th Infantry Division attached to the XXXI Corps equipped with VCC-2 APCs were
reportedly be taking part in anti-bandit operations near Bahawalpur alongside Punjab Police, based
on social media and news reports. The units from the 35th were then rotated with fresh
replacements consisting of VCC-1 APCs. The police were also equipped with locally made
M113A1/A2 APCs.[5][6][7]
Structure
Its present order of battle is as follows:[8]
XXXI Corps
Badge of XXXI Corps
Active 1986
Country Pakistan
Branch Pakistan Army
Type XXX Corps
Role Maneuver/Deployment
oversight.
Size 45,000
approximately
(Though this may vary as
units are rotated)
Garrison/HQ Bahawalpur
Cantonment, Punjab,
Pakistan
Nickname(s) Bahawalpur
Corps[1]
Colors Identification Red and white
Anniversaries 1986
Decorations Military Decorations
of Pakistan military
Commanders
Commander Lt Gen Muhammad
Aqeel
Notable Gen. Shamim Alam
commanders Lt-Gen. Mohammad
Shafiq
Lt-Gen. Haroon
Aslam
Insignia
Flag
Structure of XXXI Corps
Corps Corps HQ Corps Commander Assigned Units Unit HQ
26th Mechanized Division Bahawalpur
35th Infantry Division Bahawalpur
14th Infantry Division Okara
Lt. Gen Muhammad Aqeel 101st Independent Infantry Brigade U/I Location
XXXI Corps Bahawalpur
14th Independent Armored Brigade Bahawalpur
Independent Artillery Brigade U/I Location
Independent Engineering Brigade U/I Location
Independent Signal Brigade U/I Location
List of Commanders XXXI Corps
Corps Commander Start Date End Date
Lt Gen Muhammad Aqeel 2 May 2025 Incumbent
Lt Gen Saqib Mahmood Malik 4 December 2022 2 May 2025
Lt Gen Faiz Hameed 9th Aug 2022 3 December 2022
Lt Gen Khalid Zia Nov 2020 8 August 2022
Lt Gen Syed Muhammad Adnan April 2019 Nov 2020
Lt Gen Javed Mehmood Bukhari August 2018 April 2019
Lt Gen Sher Afgun December 2016 August 2018
Lt Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday April 2015 December 2016
Lt Gen Javed Iqbal December 2013 April 2015
Lt Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat January 2013 December 2013
Lt Gen Muhammad Haroon Aslam March 2011 January 2013
Lt Gen Naeem Khalid Lodhi October 2009 March 2011
Lt Gen Muhammad Yousaf October 2008 October 2009
Lt Gen Raza Mohammad Khan April 2007 October 2008
Lt Gen Imtiaz Hussain May 2005 April 2007
Lt Gen Syed Parwez Shahid September 2003 May 2005
Lt Gen Shahid Hamid October 2001 September 2003
Lt Gen Munir Hafiez August 2000 October 2001
Lt Gen Tahir Ali Qureshi October 1998 August 2000
Lt Gen Muzaffar Hussain Usmani May 1997 October 1998
Lt Gen Khalid Nawaz Malik January 1996 May 1997
Lt Gen Iftikhar Ali Khan June 1993 January 1996
Lt Gen Muhammad Akram Khan August 1991 May 1993
Lt Gen Shamim Alam Khan April 1991 August 1991
Lt Gen Mohammad Shafiq March 1988 April 1991
References
1. "COAS visits formations of Bahawalpur Corps" ([Link]
72/coas-visits-formations-of-bahawalpur-corps/) . [Link].
2. "XXXI Corps" ([Link] .
[Link]. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
3. Alam, Dr Shah (1 July 2012). Pakistan Army: Modernisation, Arms Procurement and Capacity
Building ([Link]
=PT13) . Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-81411-79-7. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
4. Sathasivam, Kanishkan (24 October 2017). Uneasy Neighbors: India, Pakistan and US Foreign
Policy ([Link]
PT60) . Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-87682-7. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
5. Haq, Irfanul (10 April 2023). " 'Grand operation' against katcha area outlaws starts in Punjab" (h
ttps://[Link]/news/1746876) . Dawn. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
6. @FarooqB90714421 (16 April 2023). "PA VCC-2s from 35 Div taking part in Kacha Anti-Dacoit
Op in Lower Punjab Region. Plus a M113A1/A2 HIT Up-Armoured with Punjab police" ([Link]
com/FarooqB90714421/status/1647523457880543235) (Tweet) – via Twitter.
7. @FarooqB90714421 (2 December 2023). "PA VCC1s (With RPG-Net but without additional
armour) during Anti-Dacoit Ops in Lower Punjab Region. Its likely these VCC1s replaced the
VCC2s which had likely become exhausted as they were taking part in the op previously" (http
s://[Link]/FarooqB90714421/status/1730996688138195211) (Tweet) – via Twitter.
8. Global Security website page on XXXI Corps ([Link]
stan/[Link])
Further reading
Cloughley, Brian (1999). A History of the Pakistan Army: Wars and Insurrections. Karachi, Sind,
Pakistan: Karachi University Press. ISBN 9780195790153.
