• Contact us
  • Advertising Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
Saturday, June 14, 2025
31 °c
Agartala
enewstime
  • Home
  • News
    • Northeast
    • National
    • International
    • Tripura News
  • Sports
    UTT Season 6: Reigning champions Dempo Goa Challengers face resolute U Mumba TT in semi-final 2

    UTT Season 6: Reigning champions Dempo Goa Challengers face resolute U Mumba TT in semi-final 2

    WTC Final: Bavuma holding mace will lift Test cricket again in South Africa, says Smith

    WTC Final: Bavuma holding mace will lift Test cricket again in South Africa, says Smith

    WTC final: These 69 runs will be the hardest SA will ever have to earn, says Steyn ahead of day 4

    WTC final: These 69 runs will be the hardest SA will ever have to earn, says Steyn ahead of day 4

    MCC makes ‘bunny hop’ boundary catches illegal

    MCC makes ‘bunny hop’ boundary catches illegal

    WTC final: Australia bowling coach Vettori eyes early breakthrough as SA close in on ICC glory

    WTC final: Australia bowling coach Vettori eyes early breakthrough as SA close in on ICC glory

    VPTL 2025: Jitesh Sharma's last-ball six seals NECO Master Blaster's victory and spot in final

    VPTL 2025: Jitesh Sharma's last-ball six seals NECO Master Blaster's victory and spot in final

    No evidence of corruption in AIFF, says President Kalyan Chaubey

    No evidence of corruption in AIFF, says President Kalyan Chaubey

    Ultimate Kho Kho Season 3 to commence on Nov 29, will include foreign players

    Ultimate Kho Kho Season 3 to commence on Nov 29, will include foreign players

    WTC final: Smith sent for an X-ray at a nearby hospital after suffering finger dislocation

    WTC final: Smith sent for an X-ray at a nearby hospital after suffering finger dislocation

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Features
  • TendersNew
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Northeast
    • National
    • International
    • Tripura News
  • Sports
    UTT Season 6: Reigning champions Dempo Goa Challengers face resolute U Mumba TT in semi-final 2

    UTT Season 6: Reigning champions Dempo Goa Challengers face resolute U Mumba TT in semi-final 2

    WTC Final: Bavuma holding mace will lift Test cricket again in South Africa, says Smith

    WTC Final: Bavuma holding mace will lift Test cricket again in South Africa, says Smith

    WTC final: These 69 runs will be the hardest SA will ever have to earn, says Steyn ahead of day 4

    WTC final: These 69 runs will be the hardest SA will ever have to earn, says Steyn ahead of day 4

    MCC makes ‘bunny hop’ boundary catches illegal

    MCC makes ‘bunny hop’ boundary catches illegal

    WTC final: Australia bowling coach Vettori eyes early breakthrough as SA close in on ICC glory

    WTC final: Australia bowling coach Vettori eyes early breakthrough as SA close in on ICC glory

    VPTL 2025: Jitesh Sharma's last-ball six seals NECO Master Blaster's victory and spot in final

    VPTL 2025: Jitesh Sharma's last-ball six seals NECO Master Blaster's victory and spot in final

    No evidence of corruption in AIFF, says President Kalyan Chaubey

    No evidence of corruption in AIFF, says President Kalyan Chaubey

    Ultimate Kho Kho Season 3 to commence on Nov 29, will include foreign players

    Ultimate Kho Kho Season 3 to commence on Nov 29, will include foreign players

    WTC final: Smith sent for an X-ray at a nearby hospital after suffering finger dislocation

    WTC final: Smith sent for an X-ray at a nearby hospital after suffering finger dislocation

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Features
  • TendersNew
No Result
View All Result
enewstime
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Features
  • Tenders
Home Features

The Cost of Power: How Pakistan’s military economy is undermining its future (IANS Analysis)

IANS by IANS
May 25, 2025 - Updated on May 26, 2025
in Features
The Cost of Power: How Pakistan’s military economy is undermining its future (IANS Analysis)
39
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) Pakistan’s enduring economic difficulties are well recognised globally. In recent years, the nation has experienced alarming inflation, an ongoing crisis in foreign exchange reserves, and an overwhelming debt burden.

ADVERTISEMENT

These issues have led to widespread unemployment, increased poverty, and daily hardships for a population already caught in the crossfire of recurring terrorist violence and military operations ostensibly aimed at countering it.

Nevertheless, despite this worsening scenario and the harsh effects of austerity measures imposed by the IMF on the populace, Pakistan’s disproportionately large military appears unaffected and is, in fact, gradually expanding its share of the national economy.

The expansive role of the military in Pakistan’s domestic affairs extends beyond politics and foreign policy, significantly permeating the economic sphere.

To begin with, the military absorbs a substantial portion of the GDP — Pakistan’s defence expenditure for FY 2025 stood at 2.3 per cent of GDP, exceeding equivalent figures for India, China, and the European Union.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to study by a leading business portal, Pakistan’s defence budget experienced an annual growth rate of 12.6 per cent between FY17 and FY25, compared to India’s 8 per cent. In contrast, education and healthcare were allocated merely 2 per cent and 1.3 per cent of the GDP, respectively.

In addition, the military has developed an extensive private conglomerate, commonly referred to as the ‘milbus’ (military business) — a term introduced by prominent scholar Ayesha Siddiqa in her seminal work Military Inc.: Inside Pakistan’s Military Economy.

Through a network of commercial enterprises, including the Fauji Foundation, Army Welfare Trust, Shaheen Foundation, Bahria Foundation, and the highly contentious Defence Housing Authority (DHA), the military has embedded itself across numerous sectors such as real estate, banking, manufacturing, agriculture, shipping, education, and media. Some estimates suggest that the military controls approximately 12 per cent of the nation’s land.

Although the military and its proponents contend that the professionalism, stability, and efficiency it represents are reflected in its economic endeavours, many critics challenge the monopolistic, expansive, and opaque nature of this military dominance.

Defence-operated industries suppress local competition and private enterprise, while benefiting from tax concessions and minimal regulatory oversight.

By blurring the boundary between protector and profiteer, the military prioritises strategic positioning and its own commercial gain over public welfare and principles of market equity.

These concerns are amplified when certain ventures become entangled in corruption scandals, such as the DHA Valley Islamabad fraud, or disregard public interests, as seen in the Indus canals initiative.

The DHA—initially established to offer affordable housing for retired military personnel but now catering to elite residential projects—has faced widespread criticism over questionable land acquisitions and community displacements to benefit the privileged.

Moreover, the inclusion of senior military officials in the 2021 Pandora Papers exposed the extent to which they funnel vital national assets through offshore financial channels.

The ‘milbus’ in Pakistan has not only exacerbated the persistent and severe underinvestment in human development, but the military’s substantial economic influence also reinforces its political dominance within the country.

It is well established that the military remains the most powerful institution in Pakistan, having governed directly for nearly three decades and exerting significant influence behind the scenes during periods of civilian administration.

Given the military’s pervasive control over the economy, civilian governments are largely stripped of the ability to make independent decisions based on the needs and interests of the populace.

Thus, the expansive economic domain of the military in Pakistan has a direct impact on the nation’s socio-economic stability. On one hand, defence-operated enterprises—shielded from public audits and regulatory scrutiny—create monopolies that undermine local businesses, deplete public resources, and significantly intensify inequality.

On the other hand, the ‘milbus’ entrenches authoritarianism, rendering civilian governments largely symbolic.

At a time when the country’s economic crisis continues to spiral, inflicting severe hardship on ordinary citizens, it is essential to critically reassess the allocation of national resources, particularly those directed towards the military.

The military’s vast commercial ventures must be brought under the same regulatory framework as civilian enterprises, and its market dominance restricted.

Achieving this requires a fundamental recalibration of civil-military relations, along with a reflective discourse on the appropriate role of the military within a democratic framework.

–IANS

scor/

*Except for the headings & sub-headings, this story has not been edited by The enewstime.in and has been published from IANS feed.

Tags: Pakistan

Related Posts

Holding onto Chair: The many tactics of Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus (IANS Analysis)
Features

Holding onto Chair: The many tactics of Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus (IANS Analysis)

June 11, 2025
A united India sends a clear message: Zero tolerance for terrorism
Features

A united India sends a clear message: Zero tolerance for terrorism

June 11, 2025
Way to go: Elon Musk’s father Errol hails India’s electric car scheme (IANS Exclusive)
Features

Way to go: Elon Musk’s father Errol hails India’s electric car scheme (IANS Exclusive)

June 2, 2025
Bangladesh’s anti-Yunus wave: A tale of democratic disillusionment (IANS Analysis)
Features

Bangladesh’s anti-Yunus wave: A tale of democratic disillusionment (IANS Analysis)

June 1, 2025 - Updated on June 2, 2025
The Third Eye: Unpredictable President Trump accepts ‘course correction’
Features

The Third Eye: Unpredictable President Trump accepts ‘course correction’

May 25, 2025
On sticky wicket for months, Yunus struggles to retain power in Bangladesh
Features

On sticky wicket for months, Yunus struggles to retain power in Bangladesh

May 23, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
D-2050 D-2050 D-2050
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

About us

Enewstime.in is run by an individual – a Journalist by profession of Tripura with the active help of several journos including senior journalists of the State. On top of that, Enewstime.in being a subscriber of IANS news agency, we have plenty of multi-choice topics to offer to our esteemed readers. Enewstime.in is a venture reach global audience from a tiny State Tripura.

Latest News

Blood donation simple, safe, can make huge impact: JP Nadda

Soundarya Sharma feels practical knowledge gives far more edge in acting than theoretical knowledge

US companies achieve record-breaking office leasing volumes in India: Report

TN govt tightens grievance redressal system, monthly reports made mandatory

Typhoon Wutip makes second landfall in China

UTT Season 6: Reigning champions Dempo Goa Challengers face resolute U Mumba TT in semi-final 2

Contact us

ssss

  • Contact us
  • Advertising Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

© 2025 Designed & Developed with ❤️ by Provibe Media LLP

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Northeast
    • National
    • International
    • Tripura News
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Features
  • Tenders

© 2025 Designed & Developed with ❤️ by Provibe Media LLP