In 1947, when the Britishers left India, they left behind a divided
nation, creating Pakistan and India. An intriguing chapter in
Pakistan's history began when a substantial financial aid of
approximately 18.2 million Rs was allocated to Pakistan in 1947 by
the departing British. However, this fund remained dormant until 1953
when the Government of Pakistan decided to transfer it to the
Pakistan Army.
Rather than distributing the money to war
veterans, the Pakistan Army chose a different path. They opted to
invest and establish businesses, creating an independent welfare
system for army personnel. This marked a pivotal moment as the
initial 18 million USD from 1953 has grown exponentially to a
staggering 20 billion USD today.
The birth of the Fauji
Foundation in 1954 initiated a series of subsidiary companies
spanning various sectors, including household items, energy,
construction, hospitals, and mining. Their presence in these
industries is unmatched by any Pakistani businessmen.
However,
not all aspects of this military involvement have been smooth. Recent
reports suggest that the Army Welfare Trust and Fauji Foundation have
been exempted from income tax, raising questions about transparency
and accountability.
The turning point came in January 2022
when a news article titled "Misuse of Power" exposed
several controversies. The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Gulzar
Ahmed, ordered the demolition of commercial ventures on strategic
lands, highlighting the military's misuse of Cantonment Board lands
in Karachi and bases meant for the Air Force and naval
operations.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40146754/misuse-of-power
Further legal battles revealed controversial
constructions on protected National Park land, leading to criminal
proceedings against naval officials. The Islamabad High Court ordered
the Navy to cease activities on Rawal Lake and restore the natural
habitat.
The saga continued into March 2023, when
journalist Asad Ali Toor raised concerns about Pakistan's economic
distress and unprecedented inflation. He exposed alleged "land
grabbing" by the Pakistan Army under the guise of "corporate
agricultural farming," revealing documents detailing the
allocation of acres of land in Punjab.
While #Pakistan is near to default, Pakistanis suffering from unprecedented inflation upto 41%, @CMShehbaz led Govt introduced austerity measures but no end to the lust of “land grabbing” in the name of “corporate agricultural farming” by our holy men of #PakistanArmy 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/7PvQQWfE0p
— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) March 16, 2023
Chief Justice Qazi
Faez Isa echoed the sentiment, urging the federal government to
refocus the armed forces exclusively on defense matters.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1814346
As
Pakistan grapples with economic challenges and controversies
surrounding military involvement in civilian affairs, one cannot help
but ponder the consequences of decisions made by the Britishers in
1947. The once-intended financial aid has transformed into a complex
tale of military entrepreneurship, raising questions about
accountability, transparency, and the balance between defense and
commercial activities. The journey from financial assistance to land
controversies poses a challenging question for millions of
Pakistanis: should they laugh or cry at the historical mistakes that
shaped their nation's course?
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