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Rashid Mahmood :
Rashid Bhai perhaps you can shed greater light on what the Army & her Sister Services do in terms of their Commercial Interests servicing Army Welfare Programs !
Sure Armstrong.
All servicemen eventually have to retire from the Armed forces at a certain age or service limit.
Almost all of these serviceman come from middle class family backgrounds and have to work in order to continue with the livelihood of their families. This is termed as rehabilitation in civil life for ex-servicemen and their families.
Fauji Foundation was the first organisation to be established and its history dates back to 1945, when a Post War Services Reconstruction Fund (PWSRF) was established for Indian War Veterans who served the British Crown during WW-II. At the time of partition (1947) when Pakistan came into being, the balance fund was transferred to Pakistan in the proportion of its post WW-II veterans. Till 1953, the fund remained in the custody of the civilian Government, when in 1954 it was transferred to the Army.
Similarly,
AWT was established in 1971.
Shaheen Foundation was established in 1977 under the Charitable Endowment Act 1890. The foundation was created to promote welfare activities for the benefit of serving and retired PAF personnel including civilians and their dependents, and to this end-generates fund through industrial and commercial enterprises.
Bahria Foundation was established in January 1982 by the Government of Pakistan as a Charitable Trust under the Endowment Act 1890. The foundation is to establish profitable businesses for welfare of serving and rehabilitation of retired personnel of Pakistan Navy and their dependents including families of shuhadas. BAHRIA Foundation excels in the field of education where it has established 45 schools/colleges throughout Pakistan. The Foundation is also participating actively in a number of joint ventures with local and foreign entrepreneurs.
The Foundation owns three prestigious complexes having an area of about 486,000 sq ft. office space at Karachi and has over 3750 employees.
All these organisations invest in commercial business to generate revenue which is eventually used for the rehabilitation of ex servicemen and civilians as well.
The best part is that all these organizations now employ more than 70% civilians in their various businesses, thus creating thousands of jobs, which eventually benefit the economy of Pakistan.
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