Nepal’s army, which is growing friendships with China and Pakistan, is also seen growing in the path of Pakistani army. The army of Nepal wants to do business like the army of Pakistan. In fact, the Nepalese Army wants to invest in a business in which it earns heavily. There has been a huge protest within the country of the Nepali Army becoming a ‘Corporate Army’.
According to a Kathmandu post report, The National Defense Force has introduced a draft bill to replace the Nepali Army Act. The Nepalese Army has sought legal advice to invest its welfare fund ‘as a promoter’ within various businesses. For this, the Nepalese Army has been putting its full emphasis for the last several years.
Rant Prakash Thapa, in-charge of the legal affairs of the Nepalese Army, said he hoped the government would give its consent before their draft bill was approved by Parliament. According to the current laws of Nepal, the army is prohibited from investing in infrastructure projects such as industries, companies and hydroelectric projects. Security experts say that the Nepalese Army is showing more interest in doing business than national security, intelligence gathering and other things.
Army Welfare Fund increased by Rs 7.29 billion in one year
Nepalese defense expert Giza Sharma Wagle said, “This is a very worrying sign.” The more the army is involved in non-military activities, the more professionally weak it will be. During the Maoist violence in Nepal, the Nepalese army was involved in activities such as road construction but when the violence ended it is still involved in this work. The Nepalese Army currently sells gas stations, schools, medical colleges and water bottles.
The Nepalese Army has received the contract for the Kathmandu-Terai Expressway, which is receiving much criticism. On the other hand, the Nepali Army claims that the projects it is involved in are ‘commercial ventures’. She has also said that she is doing all this for the ‘Welfare Fund’. The Nepalese Army Welfare Fund was created in 1975 and currently has Rs 45.86 billion in various accounts. Apart from this, it has invested Rs 5.74 billion. Nepalese Army’s Welfare Fund has increased by Rs 7.29 billion in the last one year alone.
Pak army owns more than 50 businesses and housing properties
Explain how effective the army is in Pakistan, this fact is not hidden from anyone. It is said that the Pakistan Army also decides which leader or party will come to power there. The Pakistani army has also built a large empire of industries. The Pakistani Army owns more than 50 businesses and housing properties run by its various commercial organizations. The army runs its business empire through the Foggy Foundation, Shaheen Foundation, Bahria Foundation, Army Welfare Trust and Defense Housing Authority.
According to the Asia Times report, the turnover of the military in 2016 was valued at around $ 20 billion (1400 billion Indian rupees), which increased to about $ 100 billion (about 7000 billion rupees) in just three years. . The business being run by the army is free from any responsibility other than the government companies and it has nothing to do with the defense budget there. Major military businesses in Pakistan are banking, food, retail, cement, real estate, housing construction, insurance and private security services. Nepal’s army is also seen growing on this path.