Poor Pak’s rich army sitting on assets worth $20 billion
through funds—have at least 120 entities that are virtually into every aspect of life, from phosphorus, aviation, sugar and apparels to academic institutions and even security guards.
“Many of these companies are used as shell companies and as a front for taking bribes from arms dealers. They are protected by any ‘external interference’ from the civil departments. Prime areas of the country are under the control of the Defence Housing Authorities (DHAs) in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Peshawar and Quetta. These are the fronts used by serving and retired generals to acquire properties across the country,” an official said.
In a book released in May 2007, Pakistan-based military scientist, Ayesha Siddiqa, who also served at the position of director in the Pakistan navy, wrote that the worth of the capital controlled by the Pakistan military officers at the time was $20 billion.
The launch function of the book, which was supposed to be held at an elite club in Islamabad, had to be restricted to a third-floor room after the organisers of the club cancelled it and not one of the hotels in the capital city agreed to host it citing phone calls from the Pakistani army.
And this was more than 11 years ago. Since then, as per Pakistan defence ministry’s own admission, the AWT has added at least 11 new businesses and projects that include a bank as well as cement manufacturing companies in its arsenal. PROJECTS AND BUSINESSES RUN BY AWT Two stud farms in Pakpattan and Okara Army Welfare Sugar Mills, Badin Askari Project (shoe and woollen), Lahore Army Welfare Mess and Blue Lagoon Restaurant, Rawalpindi Real estate comprising three small housing schemes in Lahore, Badaber and Sangjani Askari General Insurance Co Ltd, Rawalpindi Askari Aviation Rawalpindi MAL Pakistan Ltd. Karachi Askari Guards Pvt Ltd, head office (HO) in Rawalpindi Askari Fuels (CNG), HO in Rawalpindi Askari Seeds, Okara Askari Enterprises, Rawalpindi Fauji Security Services (acquired from Fauji Foundation), HO in Rawalpindi Services, Askari Apparel, Lahore Askari Lagoon, Faisalabad BUSINESSES MANAGED BY FAUJI FOUNDATION, WHICH, IN TURN, IS MANAGED BY TOP ARMY OFFICIALS Fauji Cereals Foundation Gas Fauji Fertiliser Company Ltd based in Morocco Fauji Cement Co Ltd Fauji Oil Terminal and Distillery Co Ltd Fauji Kabirwala Power Company Ltd Foundation Power Co (Dharki) Ltd Askari Cement Ltd Askari Bank Ltd Foundation Wind Energy (I and II) Ltd Noon Pakistan Ltd Lahore Fauji Meat Ltd Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim Ltd Fauji Akbar Partia Marine Ter-
minal Ltd, HO in Karachi BUSINESSES UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OF SHAHEEN FOUNDATION, A PAKISTAN AIR FORCE TRUST Shaheen Airport Services Shaheen Aerotraders Shaheen Knitwear Shaheen Complex, Karachi Shaheen Complex, Lahore Shaheen Medical Services Hawk Advertising Fazaia Welfare Education School System SAPS Aviation College Air Eagle Aviation Academy Shaheen Welfare Housing Scheme, Peshawar The Bahria Foundation, run by top Pakistan navy officers, is into real estate, oil and gas distribution, marine trade, security, shipyard terminal management, pharmacy and civil aviation.