Pakistan’s Air Force doesn’t just dominate the skies; it’s taking a substantial chunk of the ground too. Enter Shaheen Foundation, a shadowy entity that, while billed as a welfare organisation, is running a multi-billion-dollar business empire. This story isn’t just about the military, it’s about an elite faction using their power to build corporate kingdoms. Let’s dive into the layers of this web, which has woven itself deeper into Pakistan’s economy.
1. Foundation’s History and Structure
Founded in 1977, Shaheen Foundation was initially set up under the guise of serving the welfare of retired and serving officers and their families. However, what started as a modest welfare initiative transformed into a vast multi-billion-rupee commercial empire. The foundation is controlled by high-ranking officers of the Pakistan Air Force, which means that the individuals who created this entity also control its operations, profits, and business ventures.
Today, Shaheen Foundation oversees more than 20 companies and projects that span industries such as aviation, real estate, education, media, courier services, and advertising. These operations are largely shielded from taxes, claiming to provide welfare services to PAF personnel.
2. Shaheen Foundation’s Main Businesses
Some of the key enterprises under Shaheen Foundation’s umbrella include:
- Shaheen Airport Services: A major player in ground handling services at Pakistan’s large airports.
- Shaheen Air International: Once the second-largest airline in Pakistan, it was shut down in 2018 but was known for millions in unpaid taxes before its collapse.
- Air University: An educational institute under PAF control, charging hefty fees despite receiving government subsidies.
- Shaheen Complex Karachi / Lahore: High-end real estate developments, housing multinational corporations.
- Shaheen Knitwear, FM Radio, Shaheen Advertising: A foray into various industries, all run under the foundation’s vast corporate umbrella.
But what makes these businesses truly unique is their tax exemption status, allowing them to operate largely without government oversight and evade the financial responsibilities that ordinary businesses face.
3. Corruption and Tax Evasion
Shaheen Foundation’s business empire is riddled with allegations of corruption and tax evasion. As highlighted in Ayesha Siddiqa’s book Military Inc., organisations like Shaheen Foundation are not accountable to the government or parliament. The following practices are common:
- Lack of Transparency: Shaheen Foundation does not disclose the full extent of its income, with millions of dollars’ worth of earnings going unreported.
- Land Grabs: Using PAF’s authority, the foundation has been involved in acquiring government land at extremely low prices.
- Exploitation of the Poor: Despite its claims of welfare, the foundation’s schools and hospitals charge fees far beyond the reach of ordinary Pakistanis, effectively excluding the very population it claims to serve.
Essentially, Shaheen Foundation has used the mask of welfare to become the perfect example of military capitalism, operating above the law and above public scrutiny.
4. The Fall of Shaheen Air and False Promises
One of Shaheen Foundation’s major failures is Shaheen Air International. Once touted as a competitor to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Shaheen Air collapsed in 2018 with over 1.5 billion rupees in unpaid taxes. Employees were left without pay, and many were abruptly dismissed, leaving them in dire straits.
The story of Shaheen Air mirrors that of Pakistan’s broader economic troubles—high debt, rampant corruption, and a lack of accountability. Was the foundation truly focused on welfare, or was it just another way to line the pockets of those in power?
5. The Military-Corporate Alliance
Shaheen Foundation is not just a charitable organisation—it’s a powerful corporate syndicate. The blend of military power and corporate greed creates a dangerous combination, where accountability is nonexistent. Ordinary Pakistanis are burdened with taxes and government loans, while military elites make untold profits behind closed doors.
This is not a conspiracy, it is a documented reality. Shaheen Foundation, like other military-run foundations, has created a system where logical questions about its operations are silenced, and dissent is practically illegal.
6. A Direct Question to the People of Pakistan
To the people of Pakistan: When a military force runs its own business empire, creates its own laws, and sees itself as above reproach, can we still talk about democracy, welfare, and development? Until the country is free from the grip of these military-business syndicates, no amount of international aid, no force in the world will be able to rescue it.
