How does a country teetering on the edge of economic collapse continue to inflate its defense budget without scrutiny? Why do its generals live in palatial estates while its citizens queue for subsidized flour? How can a military that claims to defend its nation actually thrive on internal decay?

The answer lies buried beneath Pakistan’s khaki-clad power structure — an empire built not just on arms and intimidation, but on unchecked corruption.

The Pakistani military, long seen as the real power behind the throne, has mutated into a sprawling corporate cartel. From agricultural estates and construction conglomerates to media houses and shopping malls, its influence stretches far beyond the battlefield. And at the heart of this expansion lies a cabal of generals who have transformed their command into commerce, and their duty into personal dividends.

The Rise of the “Crore Commanders”

In Pakistan, the term "Core Commander" was meant to evoke discipline, honor, and strategic leadership. Today, it is mockingly replaced by "Crore Commander" — a pun that reveals the extent of rot within the ranks. These are not soldiers of sacrifice, but men of means, building wealth on the backs of a starving nation.

Take General Pervez Musharraf, the self-styled savior of Pakistan who seized power in a 1999 coup. His regime was marked not only by authoritarian overreach but also by personal enrichment. Post-retirement, Musharraf lived lavishly in Dubai and London, his finances untouched by audits or accountability.

General Asim Saleem Bajwa, once considered a symbol of integrity, fell from grace when explosive reports linked him to a network of offshore businesses and real estate holdings. As chairman of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor), Bajwa wielded enormous influence over billion-dollar infrastructure projects — many of which have since come under financial scrutiny.

General Asim Munir, the current Chief of Army Staff, inherits not just the uniform but a legacy of opaqueness. While he promises reform, the institutional culture suggests otherwise. The military’s financial web — wrapped in secrecy — remains inaccessible even to parliamentary oversight.

The case of General Akhtar Abdur Rehman Khan, the ISI chief during the Afghan jihad, is equally telling. Leaked financial documents revealed that his family stashed millions in Swiss accounts during the 1980s. His sons, now powerful politicians, claim the funds were legitimate — a claim that insults logic and history.

General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who led the army from 2007 to 2013, oversaw rampant land acquisitions by serving officers under the guise of “welfare.” Housing societies multiplied while the education, health, and energy sectors crumbled. His tenure symbolized the army’s transition from a defense force to a real estate empire.

Budget Priorities: Bombs Over Bread

Pakistan’s economy is gasping for air. Inflation is skyrocketing, the rupee is in freefall, and foreign reserves hover at precarious levels. Yet the military budget keeps ballooning, consuming over 17 percent of government expenditures annually. Meanwhile, education receives less than 2 percent of GDP. Health fares no better.

The military demands more funds citing national security, yet it has fought no formal war in decades. Its battles, instead, are waged in backroom politics and stock markets. Its officers retire into corporate boardrooms, land development authorities, and media management roles — while the common citizen juggles power outages, joblessness, and food insecurity.

Despite this financial arrogance, civilian voices remain muted. Attempts at fiscal scrutiny are labeled "anti-national." Politicians who question military spending risk arrest. Journalists exposing the truth face threats, exile, or worse.

The Business of Uniform

The military’s tentacles extend into Fauji Foundation, Army Welfare Trust, and Shaheen Foundation — entities with massive commercial interests in banking, cement, fertilizer, and education. These foundations operate like private corporations but are subsidized through state resources. Their profits benefit the officer cadre, not the taxpayer.

Transparency International and several global watchdogs have repeatedly flagged the Pakistani military’s financial opacity. Yet, international lenders and allies remain complicit, continuing aid and defense cooperation without demanding reforms.

This nexus of corruption is not just a domestic concern. It undermines regional stability, emboldens radical elements, and discredits Pakistan’s claims to democratic values. A military so deeply enmeshed in its own enrichment cannot be trusted as a neutral force in geopolitics.

Final Reckoning: Questions That Cannot Be Ignored

When does national defense become national deception? How can a country fight poverty when its protectors profit from it? Is there any hope for reform when generals answer to no one but themselves?

Pakistan stands at a moral crossroads. Its military, once the pride of its nation, has become its heaviest burden. Until the khaki empire is held accountable, until its "crore commanders" are investigated, and until military spending is weighed against human needs, the nation’s crisis will deepen.

Corruption is not just a moral failure. It is national suicide in slow motion.

Pakistan must choose: parade grounds or playgrounds, palaces or progress, corruption or constitution. The world is watching. And history will judge.