5-Star Luxury, Helicopters & More: As Pakistan Crumbles, Munir Set For Lavish Sri Lanka Tour
Field Marshal Asim Munir's lavish Sri Lanka visit amid Pakistan's economic crisis highlights military privilege vs civilian austerity
As Pakistan teeters on the edge of economic collapse, Field Marshal and Army Chief Asim Munir appears to be living in a parallel universe—one of luxury, leisure, and unchecked privilege. Munir's upcoming 'diplomatic" visit to Sri Lanka from July 20–23 is less a state mission and more a taxpayer-funded royal holiday.
Jets, Helicopters, and Five-Star Suites—Courtesy of the Pakistani People
In a country where inflation is punishing the poor and the government begs foreign creditors for loan deferrals, Munir's itinerary reads like that of a billionaire tourist. He will fly in a special aircraft, enjoy ceremonial bike escorts, embark on luxury city tours, and take not one but multiple helicopter rides—soaring over Sri Lanka's famed Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Adam's Peak.
He is expected to stay at one of Colombo's most opulent five-star hotels—ironically, a level of comfort denied even to Pakistan's own ministers under Islamabad's strict austerity diktats. The Pakistani government has banned foreign travel for cabinet ministers, prohibited luxury hotel stays, and frozen all non-essential spending. But apparently, none of these rules apply to the country's top soldier.
Austerity Is For The People, Not The Generals
Pakistan's economy is in freefall. Its external debt has ballooned to over $133 billion. Unemployment and poverty are surging. Half the federal budget goes toward servicing loans. The World Bank warns of growing food insecurity for millions. Yet, while ordinary citizens queue for subsidised flour and scrap together school fees, the Chief of Army Staff is busy taking aerial joyrides over tropical islands.
This is not the first time Munir has drawn fire for flaunting elite privilege. Earlier reports claimed he was seen shopping in a high-end American mall just before a key meeting with US President Donald Trump. Such spectacles have come to symbolise the Pakistan Army's unaccountable power and its immunity from the rules it imposes on everyone else.
The military's vast commercial empire—spanning real estate, retail, and banking—remains largely untaxed, even as common Pakistanis are crushed under new levies. The contrast is blinding: the army demands sacrifice from the public while insulating itself from every consequence of the crisis.
Political Tremors and Coup Whispers
As speculation mounts about growing friction between the military and the civilian leadership—particularly President Asif Ali Zardari—Munir's timing couldn't be worse. His high-profile foreign retreat only fuels whispers of another military takeover. With tensions rising in Islamabad, many see his Sri Lanka tour as a show of strength disguised as diplomacy.
A Symbol of Everything That's Wrong with Pakistan
Munir's lavish Sri Lankan escapade encapsulates the deep rot in Pakistan's governance: a country where military generals behave like monarchs, while civilians live under rationing. Where the state tightens its belt around the poor but opens the treasury for generals. Where public trust is eroded not by foreign conspiracies, but by the blatant arrogance of its own leadership.
This is not diplomacy—it is decadence. At a time when Pakistanis need accountability, empathy, and shared sacrifice, all they're getting is another reminder that in their country, the military rules—not just in politics, but also in privilege.
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First Published:
July 10, 2025, 14:37 IST
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