New Army Welfare Plan

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Soldiers’ welfare plan ready: COAS
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By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir

RAWALPINDI: The Army high command has chalked out a comprehensive plan for the welfare of soldiers, including provision of essential amenities in a better way to ordinary soldiers and non-commissioned members of the service and their families.

COAS General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, in an exclusive chat with The News, confirmed the plan without formally unfolding its details, saying that it would be put in place. General Kayani, soon after assuming the charge of the Army, had declared 2008 as ‘the year of the soldier’.

The implementation of the plan will commence from next week and it would continue to be operative throughout the year. No fanfare is expected to be displayed at the time of the initiation of the plan.

It is likely that the Army would fulfill all the needs for the project from the sources stipulated for it and no extra burden will come on the national exchequer. The idea has been widely acclaimed by the people and all the ranks of the armed forces.

To a question, General Kayani said that the plan was all about the provision of better health, education, shelter, job and other essential facilities for the families of soldiers. “This will certainly help in morale boosting of soldiers in a great way as soldier is the backbone of any army,” he added.

General Kayani, who calls himself a ‘soldier’, suggested that “no other meaning should be given to the declaration of ‘the year of the soldier’ since the move has no other purpose but to facilitate the soldiers other than the ranks”. General Kayani looked determined to carry out his plan in letter and spirit.

It is significant to mention that the soldiers that constitute the majority of the Army have been provided food and clothing facilities in reasonably good manner but their families, which generally live most of the time away from the head of the family, face difficulties due to the non-availability of essential services in their vicinities. Their pensions are not high enough and facilities for the families needed to be improved.

General Kayani hails from a soldier family and his background of the Army has inspired him to do something tangible to start with his community. He is known for engaging ordinary soldiers whenever he finds time side by side brainstorming with senior officers while performing his professional duties. For this approach, he attained enormous popularity among all the ranks of the Army during his years with the force in various capacities.

Soldiers’ welfare plan ready: COAS

Quite important in terms of ensuring that morale is kept up, and a very positive step towards ensuring opportunities for everyone regardless of rank. The army is a very large institution, so the effects of this plan, if implemented as suggested, would have positive repercussions for a much larger segment of the Pakistani population.

On the flip side, if this qualitative improvement in the soldiers and their families lives is not matched to some extent by economic growth in the economy that trickles down to other members of society, will there be a backlash against the army, for a perceived "exploitation of the nations wealth"?

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Good idea.

But the situation right now is not conducive.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

But the situation right now is not conducive.

The plan is to be implemented starting next week, its a bit late to be rolling it back. Also, were the plans to keep the implementation "low key", and meeting the extra cost from the Army's own resources true, then I would suggest that it does not matter what the "situation" is.

A good plan is a good plan. Keeping the morale of the soldiers high in a situation like this is an excellent idea.

 

[fatman17]

Good idea.

But the situation right now is not conducive.

Dear Salim
on the contrary, this is the right time. it will raise the morale of the common soldiers who are going to be asked to fight the militants with more intensity. the army will keep this matter as an internal affair. no fanfare.

 

[mujahideen]

Dear Salim
on the contrary, this is the right time. it will raise the morale of the common soldiers who are going to be asked to fight the militants with more intensity. the army will keep this matter as an internal affair. no fanfare.

Agreed, it is a good time.

 

[BATMAN]

Good idea.

But the situation right now is not conducive.

I would rather trust the Army cheif of Pakistan more than any one else.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

One man's trust is not adequate.

Pakistan must have the trust.

With the way one observes the opinion (taking that the Pakistan TV and media are correct, including the vernacular media), it appears that your opinion is not totally shared.

Correct me, if I am wrong!

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Dear Salim
on the contrary, this is the right time. it will raise the morale of the common soldiers who are going to be asked to fight the militants with more intensity. the army will keep this matter as an internal affair. no fanfare.

Fatman,

I am not looking at it from the military standpoint.

Right now, Pakistan is on fire, and like it or not, Musharraf is holding the can since Musharraf is a reality, the AQ and terrorists are but only a hoary mist that cannot be identified. The people can only vent their anguish against reality and an icon/ object. Musharraf provides that.

NS has said he will boycott the election and the PPP chaps are running wild. Like it or not, NS and PPP do represent a large segment of the Pakistani population and I daresay, since these are political parties for quite a long time, they know how to organise a revolt (protest) and they would have a large army of goons to do the job.

From the realpolitik angle, it would be ideal to cool off on this plan and not invite attention and once the situation stabilises and the army is moved to fight the terrorists (which will have the popular support since Pakistan is getting tired of the uncertainty of their life being in danger) and as soon as some success happens as in SWOT, the package is handed over as a grateful tribute to those who are saving Pakistan. None will grudge it then and instead will welcome the action and even feel that more should have been given!

In so far given the package without fanfare I wonder if that will be possible. If leaked out as it will be, then the population would feel that it has been done 'behind their back' and it will only lead to greater resentment!

 

[alibaz]

its a great idea and right time to implement this plan. Thanks God a soldier has thought about fellow soldiers. The living standard of a soldier and his family must be brought up to make him feel proud to be a soldier.

 

[ahussains]

Time is good but we have to think about the welfare of every single citizen because every one is PAKISTANI..

 

[mujahideen]

Time is good but we have to think about the welfare of every single citizen because every one is PAKISTANI..

Well said. But I do think that soldiers should come before a regular citizen, but I do agree that we are all Pakistanis and should struggle, benefit and prosper together.