The Status Economy of the Uniform
Army families—often referred to socially as “army brats”—inherit not just benefits but a status hierarchy. Civilian citizens are implicitly categorized as less patriotic, less committed, or less brave. The familiar refrain is endlessly repeated:
“Jab hum raat ko sukoon ki neend so rahay hotay hain, yeh foji sarhadon par kharay hotay hain.”
But guarding borders is not charity. It is a profession, compensated far above the national median, especially in a country where millions survive on less than $5 a day.
Pakistan’s armed forces receive:
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Free or subsidized healthcare (CMHs)
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Free or subsidized education
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Subsidized consumer goods via CSD
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Guaranteed pensions
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State land allocations and housing plots
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Preferential access to post-retirement wealth generation
No one disputes the physical and psychological costs of military service. What is disputed—and rightly so—is the claim to moral immunity.
Doctors do not study medicine purely for “dukhi insaniyat ki khidmat”. Engineers do not build bridges out of altruism alone. Professional hazard exists everywhere. Why is it considered blasphemy when applied to the military?
