IMF demanded immediate privatization two power plants and a steel mill, Sources

[Baburfromsarmarkand]

Objectively putting GHQ hate aside, what's wrong with military inc given it pays its legal share of tax, and still allows healthy competition in the market?

I understand how it can sound bad - the military owns a conglomerate and hogs large industries, but if its contributing fairly to national tax, following the law, and allowing healthy competition in the market - what's wrong with it?

Even if we privatise by selling it off, the new owner can still be said to have a "monopoly" on their respective industry, no? Over here it's just that senitment of it being the military instead.

@blain2 [USERB=26526]@ziaulislam[/USER] @_NOBODY_

just like the mafia was running businesses and somehow their competitors ended up shutting down, I wonder how ....
And they cant export anything, cant compete in a playing field where force cant be used.

 

[Erieye]

just like the mafia was running businesses and somehow their competitors ended up shutting down, I wonder how ....
And they cant export anything, cant compete in a playing field where force cant be used.

Are you talking about a mafia, or our mafia?

Anyway my point is if they allow healthy competition even if it is clearly outperforming them in the market, as well as pay their rightful share of tax - what's wrong with it? Given these two conditions are met

 

[ziaulislam]

Objectively putting GHQ hate aside, what's wrong with military inc given it pays its legal share of tax, and still allows healthy competition in the market?

I understand how it can sound bad - the military owns a conglomerate and hogs large industries, but if its contributing fairly to national tax, following the law, and allowing healthy competition in the market - what's wrong with it?

Even if we privatise by selling it off, the new owner can still be said to have a "monopoly" on their respective industry, no? Over here it's just that senitment of it being the military instead.

@blain2 @ziaulislam @_NOBODY_

It's called conflict of interest

Military inc is a monopoly that kills private sector and refuses to pay any taxes.
It's well known that they are hugely involved in all boarder smuggling activities as well

 

[TheSolution]

It's called conflict of interest

Military inc is a monopoly that kills private sector and refuses to pay any taxes.
It's well known that they are hugely involved in all boarder smuggling activities as well

One person is saying that they pay full tax, and are the single largest tax payers, another is saying they pay no tax.

Who is correct?

I agree with the above, as long as they pay the correct amount of tax, allow fair competition in the market - then it should be fine.

@FuturePAF Opinions on the above

 

[ziaulislam]

One person is saying that they pay full tax, and are the single largest tax payers, another is saying they pay no tax.

Who is correct?

I agree with the above, as long as they pay the correct amount of tax, allow fair competition in the market - then it should be fine.

@FuturePAF Opinions on the above

Sir there is no centralized taxation system.
It was tried and never allowed to be implemented by the military

So yeah sure they may most taxes but it what they want to pay...

What ever business military steps in all other private industry dies off I wonder why

Bottom line military needs total reform and overhaul which simply won't happen

 

[TheSolution]

Sir there is no centralized taxation system.
It was tried and never allowed to be implemented by the military

So yeah sure they may most taxes but it what they want to pay...

What ever business military steps in all other private industry dies off I wonder why

Bottom line military needs total reform and overhaul which simply won't happen

Well it's a failed system then due to elite (military plus a handful of civilian families) capture.

And then people tell me a revolutionary dictator is not the solution, the entire system requires a massive cleanse, then a reform.

A country captured by boomers running on nepotism is bound to fail, especially when they push out more qualified and skilled folk, for their own clowns.

 

[FuturePAF]

Objectively putting GHQ hate aside, what's wrong with military inc given it pays its legal share of tax, and still allows healthy competition in the market?

I understand how it can sound bad - the military owns a conglomerate and hogs large industries, but if its contributing fairly to national tax, following the law, and allowing healthy competition in the market - what's wrong with it?

Even if we privatise by selling it off, the new owner can still be said to have a "monopoly" on their respective industry, no? Over here it's just that senitment of it being the military instead.

@blain2 @ziaulislam @_NOBODY_

Does it allow healthy competition? An honest question. Has anyone examined how open Pakistan is to allowing competition? There is a lot of capital amongst people that are now overseas Pakistanis, such as those investors in the gulf countries.

What incentives do these people have to bringing that capital into Pakistan. People need assurances their property will be safe, their contracts will be honored, their won’t be excessive red tape, and local power brokers won’t hurt their ability to do business even if it means putting the local power brokers out of business.

There was the story, told by Professor Taimur Rahman, during IK’s government, where the owner of a major hotel chain (I think he said it was the Ritz-Carlton) was invited by IK to build hotels in Pakistan. The owner gave 3 hours of his time to explore a prominent location. IK had requested a helicopter to come take him to the location from Islamabad Airport to see the site and make it back for his flight in 3 hours. The helicopter never came, and after 2 1/2 hours, the hotel owner boarded his private jet and left.

Who prevented that helicopter from coming. This needs to be investigated to see who doesn’t want competition. I’m not pointing fingers but this is the kind of brave investigative journalism the country badly needs.

 

[FuturePAF]

Sir there is no centralized taxation system.
It was tried and never allowed to be implemented by the military

So yeah sure they may most taxes but it what they want to pay...

What ever business military steps in all other private industry dies off I wonder why

Bottom line military needs total reform and overhaul which simply won't happen

If veterans retire in their 40s, part of a soldier’s carrier should be advanced university level education, during their time in the military, so they can be competitive in the private domain. A sustainable pathway to a second career for the men and women that have defended the country has to be a part of the solution. This was part of the idea behind the G.I. bill, for US veterans after WW2. This can also be the catalyst to fix our higher educational system.

 

[PakFactor]

They are the single largest tax payers in Pakistan. Some may say their tax bracket should be higher...up to the government, but they pay their taxes to the national coffer without delay.

What is lost on people is that our foundations soften the blow on the government by not relying on it for enhanced support for retired personnel. They provide an avenue for retired personnel (hundreds of thousands) to be gainfully employed and to earn a living given that 95% of the force retires at a prime age of ~40s.

Military Inc. urbanizes wherever its infrastructure goes. It opens up downmarket industries in support of this infrastructure, it opens up schools, colleges and hospitals that in most cases are made available to the people living in what we call "pasmaanda" ilaaqay.

Lastly, military inc. subsidizes our military expenditures by taking on indigenous projects whose beneficiaries are the services. In this way, forex movement outside of the country is preserved. This task would be better suited for private sector, but just like there is very limited IT private sector on account of limited investment, defense industry requires even more investment.

All excellent points, but if I may raise a small question: Do you see any detrimental aspects for the nation from such a large business conglomerate run by the military? Any, at all?

Well, let's see how long this lasts. From talks I have had with an individual who studied with me at Northwestern University and was my cohort in the MBA program and now associated with IMF and working with the Pak government, Military Inc, as you put it, is next. There is already a lot of resistance from the establishment, but you can only resist for so long when you need money. I have been privy to information about the talks; his message to Pakistani people is you have no choice but to bear the pain you've all self-inflicted.

 

[ziaulislam]

They are the single largest tax payers in Pakistan. Some may say their tax bracket should be higher...up to the government, but they pay their taxes to the national coffer without delay.

What is lost on people is that our foundations soften the blow on the government by not relying on it for enhanced support for retired personnel. They provide an avenue for retired personnel (hundreds of thousands) to be gainfully employed and to earn a living given that 95% of the force retires at a prime age of ~40s.

Military Inc. urbanizes wherever its infrastructure goes. It opens up downmarket industries in support of this infrastructure, it opens up schools, colleges and hospitals that in most cases are made available to the people living in what we call "pasmaanda" ilaaqay.

Lastly, military inc. subsidizes our military expenditures by taking on indigenous projects whose beneficiaries are the services. In this way, forex movement outside of the country is preserved. This task would be better suited for private sector, but just like there is very limited IT private sector on account of limited investment, defense industry requires even more investment.

Wow

 

[HAIDER]

Corruption so deep rooted, all these units should be sold.

Rs10 billion theft cases surface at Pakistan Steel Mills​

Web Desk 07:36 PM | 31 Jul, 2022

Source: File photo

• 
  

KARACHI – Senior officers and workers of the Pakistan Steel Mills were reportedly involved in theft of material worth Rs10 billion.

The shocking revelation was made when the Ministry of Industries and Production approached the federal investigators and informed them about various theft incidents, which took place in almost all departments of the state-owned enterprise. The PSM halted operations in 2015.
According to the letter written by the ministry to the federal investigators, the security department was likely to be involved in the theft incidents. An internal inquiry was initiated by the PSM and it is still under way, but the allegations are serious and transparent, the letter says.
The letter mentioned that on July 27 around 50 people barged in the plant area of the Pakistan Steel Mills and took away copper and wire worth billions of rupees.
The recent development comes days after a labour union wrote a letter to the federal minister for industries and production and demanded removal of the PSM Board of Directors, alleging that the management has become a facilitator in theft incidents.
It is said to be the ‘biggest theft in the country's history'. However, the incumbent government or the investigation agency have yet to comment on the matter.
PSM was running in loss since 2008 and was eventually shut down in 2015. It has caused losses of Rs229 billion to the national treasury.

NAB to conduct inquiry into Pakistan Steel Mills scam

Its workforce was cut down to 8,884 in 2019. The government has so far given billions of rupees in net salaries to employees on compassionate grounds.

Wow

50 commercial entities being run by armed forces​

Amir Wasim Published July 21, 2016




106


ISLAMABAD: The Senate was provided on Wednesday details of commercial entities being run by various wings of the armed forces in the country.
In a written reply to a question asked by Senator Farhatullah Babar of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif informed the house that there were nearly 50 “projects, units and housing colonies” functioning in the country under the administrative control of Fauji Foundation, Shaheen Foundation, Bahria Foundation, Army Welfare Trust (AWT) and Defence Housing Authorities (DHAs).
According to the details provided in the reply, eight DHAs were established in major cities. These DHAs — mostly created through ordinances — are in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Peshawar and Quetta.
Besides, there are 16 “projects/units” functioning under the AWT, 15 under the Fauji Foundation and 11 under the Shaheen Foundation.
The house was informed that Bahria Foundation was not administrating any housing colony in Pakistan, “however, an offshore tolling type LNG project is under its consideration”.

---

Bahria Foundation not administrating any housing colony, Senate told​

---

The projects/units being run by the AWT are:

1. Two stud farms in Pakpattan and Okara
2. Army Welfare Sugar Mills, Badin
3. Askari Project (shoe and woollen), Lahore
4. Army Welfare Mess and Blue Lagoon Restaurant, Rawalpindi
5. Real estate comprising three small housing schemes in Lahore, Badaber and Sangjani
6. Askari General Insurance Co Ltd Rawalpindi
7. Askari Aviation Services, Rawalpindi
8. MAL Pakistan Ltd Karachi
9. Askari Guards (Pvt) Ltd, head office (HO) in Rawalpindi
10. Askari Fuels (CNG) with HO in Rawalpindi
11. Askari Seeds, Okara
12. Askari Enterprises, Rawalpindi
13. Fauji Security Services (acquired from Fauji Foundation), HO in Rawalpindi
14. Askari Apparel, Lahore
15. Askari Lagoon, Faisalabad.

The projects/units under Fauji Foundation are:

1. Fauji Cereals
2. Foundation Gas
3. Fauji Fertiliser Company Ltd
4. Fauji Cement Co Ltd
5. Fauji Oil Terminal and Distillery Co Ltd
6. Fauji Kabirwala Power Company Ltd
7. Foundation Power Co (Dharki) Ltd
8. Askari Cement Ltd
9. Askari Bank Ltd
10. Foundation Wind Energy (I and II) Ltd
11. Noon Pakistan Ltd Lahore
12. Fauji Meat Ltd
13. Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim Ltd
14. Fauji Akbar Partia Marine Terminal Ltd, HO in Karachi.

A company under the name of Pakistan Maroc Phosphore SA was set up in Morocco by the Fauji Foundation in 2008.
Similarly, the projects, units and housing colonies under the administrative control of Shaheen Foundation, which is a trust of the Pakistan Air Force, are:

1. Shaheen Airport Services
2. Shaheen Aerotraders
3. Shaheen Knitwear
4. Shaheen Complex, Karachi
5. Shaheen Complex, Lahore
6. Shaheen Medical Services
7. Hawk Advertising
8. Fazaia Welfare Education School System
9. SAPS Aviation College
10. Air Eagle Aviation Academy
11. Shaheen Welfare Housing Scheme, Peshawar.

The Senate was told that Shaheen Foundation was established in 1977 under the Charitable Endowment Act 1890 “to promote welfare activities for the benefit of serving and retired PAF personnel, including civilians and their dependents, and to this end generate fund through industrial and commercial enterprises”.

Turkish people supported​

Later, the house unanimously passed a resolution expressing solidarity with the democratic government and people of Turkey. The resolution was tabled by Azam Swati of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.
“The Senate admires, congratulates and pays its tribute to the brave people of Turkey who displayed an uncommon courage by upholding democratic norms and defeated military coup and saved their country from anarchy and civil war,” says the resolution.
“It was so moving to see common Turks took to the streets and world witnessed that human flesh stopped steel tanks on just a single call of its leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” says the resolution, which “admired all opposition political parties for their historic and unprecedented resolve to protect democracy.”
During the question hour, Law Minister Zahid Hamid informed the house that India had made 460km-long fence along the Line of Control (LoC).
He said the issue of LoC violations by India had been raised at the UN Security Council through a letter that had also been circulated among all its members.
Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2016

 

[VCheng]

message to Pakistani people is you have no choice but to bear the pain you've all self-inflicted.

Just as surely as the sun rises every day.

 

[Erieye]

If veterans retire in their 40s, part of a soldier’s carrier should be advanced university level education, during their time in the military, so they can be competitive in the private domain. A sustainable pathway to a second career for the men and women that have defended the country has to be a part of the solution. This was part of the idea behind the G.I. bill, for US veterans after WW2. This can also be the catalyst to fix our higher educational system.

Nice suggestion, I think this would be very beneficial

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

Instead now it's 3.0% of GDP with all other competitors KILLED OFF via monopoly of military Inc.

What's with this comments?

Did Fauji Cement prevent you from starting a software house?

Did Shaheen Airport Services prevent you from creating a Google/Facebook Ads Media Agency?

Or was it Navy Housing Scheme that prevented you from creating a textile mill?

 

[Chute]

What's with this comments?

Did Fauji Cement prevent you from starting a software house?

Did Shaheen Airport Services prevent you from creating a Google/Facebook Ads Media Agency?

Or was it Navy Housing Scheme that prevented you from creating a textile mill?

Yes to all three. Anything without the monopoly implicit or explicit backing/payoff gets you on bad side of what racketeering and extortion involves.

Got the money for your own security detail / goon squad?...especially when assets are expensive and ripe easy targets....and skilled employees even more so.