"Propaganda is to democracy what a bludgeon is to a totalitarian State." Noam Chomsky.
The book "Military Inc." by Ayesha Siddiqa (banned in Pakistan) discusses the Pakistan military's economic empire and its political, economical, and social effects on the country. The author uses the term “Milbus” to refer to “military capital that is used for the personal benefit of the military fraternity, especially the officer cadre, but is neither recorded nor part of the defense budget.” She puts the cost of this Milbus to at least $20 billion (and this was in 2007).
Military stakeholders control and own the vast majority of land, real estate, businesses, health clubs, food products, the list goes on. Unprecedented of any other democracy in the world.
The key to this apparatus is shaping and controlling public opinion through sponsorship of TV dramas on major networks starring top artists. The strategy is to focus on the "sacrifice" narrative which brings out the patriotism of the viewers.
An upsurge of ISPR productions have taken place recently, possibly due to more dialogue on the military's enterprise and the history of the military's control over Pakistan's democracy and elected PMs.
-Saman Mahmood
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