Commercial Interests
Repeated army coups have served to strengthen and build-up the military's corporate interests in real estate, security-related businesses, hotels, shopping malls, insurance companies, banks, farms and airline sectors. Pakistan has been ruled by the Army for about half of the period of its existence. During this period of its dictatorial rule the army has authorized some unbelievable perks and privileges for itself. Expansion of these interests occurred most prominently via welfare foundations, under the guise of providing for the needs of the troops and their families, whether with bakeries, real estate or beauty parlors.
During the period of direct military rule from 1999-2007, the military owned the best farmland and several of the largest industrial conglomerates. Retired or active-duty military officers were running the ports, postal service, electric utilities, sports federations, telecommunications authority, culture ministry, mineral development agency, anti-drug police, railroads, civil aviation authority, national shipping company and Pakistan’s biggest steel mill. They hold top administrative posts at the best universities. Many ambassadors are retired officers. A civilian government, as and when formed, could hardly change or challenge these perks. Once Prime Minister Mohammad Khan Junejo attempted to cut defence expenditure and tried to put generals and admirals in small cars in place of more luxurious vehicles, General Zia promptly sacked him.
Besides handsome pay package and fringe benefits, army officers in Pakistan are given many colonial privileges. The biggest perk is land. In addition to land grants, pensions five times the civilian level and post-retirement jobs were designed to make military service lucrative. In fact every general retiring from the army is transformed into a feudal lord, thanks to the prime agrarian lands allotted to them.
In the Pakistan Army a Major General on promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General gets fifty acres of land. On the contrary out of the 46 housing schemes directly built by the armed forces, none is for ordinary soldiers or civilian officers and personnel employed by the army.. One of Pakistan’s most coveted addresses, was built for army officers on the site of an old antiaircraft battery in the upscale Karachi suburb of Clifton. It forms a gated community protected by paramilitary troops, the development consists of spacious, Mediterranean-style villas grouped around a playground and an elaborately landscaped Japanese-style garden.
Way to go!! In India the government doesn't bother to give even one cent of land to a retired general!! Jeeez! 
![[Bregs]](/data/avatars/s/148/148509.jpg?1491816884){kind=avatar}
