Pakistan's Military Gets a Piece of the Pie: What a Surprise!
Al Jazeera reports Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been sold for $482 million to a consortium led by finance mogul Arif Habib, noting that the military also gets “a piece.” (Al Jazeera, 26 Dec 2025). This framing suggests a novel development, while conveniently omitting the long, documented history of Pakistan's military establishment’s deep penetration into the nation's economy. The
military doesn't just get a 'piece'; it's a silent, gargantuan partner in countless sectors, from cement factories to baking goods, often through opaque corporate entities that avoid standard oversight. For context, the military’s commercial ventures, collectively known as 'Fauji Foundation,' wield immense influence and assets worth billions, operating with little public scrutiny. So, a national
asset being privatized with military involvement isn't a 'storm'; it’s just another Tuesday in Pakistan. One might wonder if the 'political storm' is merely performative theater while the military continues to solidify its economic grip, disguised as pragmatic solutions to national debt. How many 'privatizations' will it take before the public realizes whose pockets are truly being lined?