The XXXI Corps is a field corps of the Pakistan Army, currently stationed in Bahawalpur, Punjab in Pakistan.
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. 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. It was initially headquartered in Pano Akil but later moved to Bahawalpur Cantonment as the corps headquarter. Together with the V Corps in Sindh, the XXXI Corps is responsible for the maneuvering combat readiness in the southern Punjab's desert zone.
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.
Structure Its present order of battle is as follows:Global Security website page on XXXI Corps Structure of XXXI CorpsCorpsCorps HQCorps CommanderAssigned UnitsUnit HQXXXI CorpsBahawalpurLt. Gen Muhammad Aqeel 26th Mechanized Division Bahawalpur35th Infantry DivisionBahawalpur14th Infantry DivisionOkara101st Independent Infantry Brigade U/I Location14th Independent Armored BrigadeBahawalpurIndependent Artillery BrigadeU/I LocationIndependent Engineering BrigadeU/I LocationIndependent Signal BrigadeU/I Location |style="background:#e6e6aa;"|Commander Station Headquarters |style="background:#e6e6aa". |Station Headquarters Bahawalpur
List of Commanders XXXI Corps
Corps CommanderStart dateEnd dateLt Gen Muhammad Aqeel 2 May 2025Incumbent Lt Gen Saqib Mahmood Malik 4 December 2022 2 May 2025 Lt Gen Faiz Hameed9th Aug 20223 December 2022 Lt Gen Khalid ZiaNov 20208 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 2018Lt Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday April 2015 December 2016Lt Gen Javed Iqbal December 2013 April 2015Lt Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat January 2013 December 2013Lt Gen Muhammad Haroon Aslam March 2011 January 2013Lt Gen Naeem Khalid Lodhi October 2009 March 2011Lt Gen Muhammad Yousaf October 2008 October 2009 Lt Gen Raza Mohammad Khan April 2007 October 2008Lt Gen Imtiaz Hussain May 2005 April 2007Lt Gen Syed Parwez Shahid September 2003 May 2005Lt Gen Shahid Hamid October 2001 September 2003Lt Gen Munir Hafiez August 2000 October 2001Lt Gen Tahir Ali Qureshi October 1998 August 2000Lt Gen Muzaffar Hussain Usmani May 1997 October 1998Lt Gen Khalid Nawaz Malik January 1996 May 1997Lt Gen Iftikhar Ali Khan June 1993 January 1996Lt Gen Muhammad Akram Khan August 1991 May 1993Lt Gen Shamim Alam Khan April 1991 August 1991Lt Gen Mohammad Shafiq March 1988 April 1991
References
Further reading