INSIDE BAHRIA FOUNDATION, PAKISTAN NAVY'S CORPORATE EMPIRE

Pakistan today is a country mired in economic crisis.

- ASHISH SINGH

Inflation hovers at crushing levels, foreign reserves are perpetually under strain, and successive governments plead with the International Monetary Fund for bailouts.

Yet, amidst this bleak picture, there exists an island of privilege. For those wearing the naval crest, hardship is not the defining reality. Instead, a parallel economy thrives—built not on innovation or enterprise, but on state patronage and military muscle.

At the centre of this privileged universe stands the Bahria Foundation, founded in 1982 under the banner of welfare for Navy personnel. What began ostensibly as a welfare initiative has since grown into a sprawling corporate conglomerate with interests ranging from shipping and logistics to schools, bakeries, real estate, and even universities.

The Foundation's name is emblazoned across Pakistan, but its inner workings remain shielded by secrecy and the Navy's institutional clout.

WELFARE OR MONOPOLY?

The Foundation’s origin story carries a moral gloss: to support veterans who had given their best years to the service of the state. Few would object to the idea of ensuring sailors’ families are not left destitute. But the reality diverges dramatically from the rhetoric. Instead of functioning as a modest welfare vehicle, Bahria Foundation has become a corporate juggernaut, protected by tax exemptions, fuelled by government contracts, and managed almost exclusively by retired admirals.

This “revolving door” between the uniform and the boardroom is no coincidence. Retired Vice Admirals routinely ascend to the role of Managing Director, ensuring that those who once oversaw naval procurement and projects now preside over lucrative business subsidiaries. Admirals become executives, captains become directors, and the Foundation guarantees a second career to the naval elite.