Luxury jet, bike escorts, helicopter rides and…: Anti-India Asim Munir to head for lavish Sri Lanka tour while Pakistan begs for money

Pakistan Navy chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is heading to neighboring Sri Lanka for a narrate consult with from July 20–23, but his itinerary means that the shuttle is extra of a luxurious retreat for Pakistan’s de-facto ruler than a diplomatic mission to the Island nation. Munir’s lavish shuttle comes at a time when the Pakistan economic system lies in entire spoil and Islamabad is actually begging world monetary bodies for loans to withhold the country running.

What does Asim Munir’s Sri Lanka itinerary display?

Media experiences citing Asim Munir’s itinerary display stunning small print concerning the Pakistan Navy chief’s consult with to Sri Lanka. The Pakistani Field Marshal will cruise to the Island nation particularly luxurious jet and is predicted to live at one in every of basically the most lavish five-superstar lodges in Colombo, a privilege which has been barred to Pakistani civilian politicians, including federal ministers, beneath the country’s strict austerity measures.

Whereas in Sri Lanka, Asim Munir can be greeted by ceremonial bike escorts, go on a few helicopter rides over the illustrious illustrious Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Adam’s Height, and embark on opulent sightseeing excursions of Colombo.

Particularly, Pakistan’s civilian government has barred cupboard ministers from foreign tear, banned prohibited luxurious hotel stays, and frozen all non-vital spending. On the opposite hand, these austerity measures don’t seemingly practice to Field Marshal Asim Munir, the country’s shadow ruler.

Pakistan economic system in shambles

Its no secret that the Pakistan economic system is in entire spoil, as traditional Pakistanis fight account inflation, rising poverty, and widespread unemployment. Islamabad’s exterior debt has ballooned to over $133 billion, and almost half of of the country’s federal finances is spent on paying wait on loans taken from varied monetary institutions and nations.

Thus, while the everyday persons are struggling to meet ends, and some even finding it complex to arrange two square meals a day for his or her households, Pakistan’s military strongman Asim Munir is shamelessly embarking on lavish excursions of foreign nations on the wait on of laborious-earned taxpayer cash.

How Pakistanis responded to Munir’s lavish escapades?

Even supposing freedom of speech is a pipe dream in Pakistan and a single comment against the authorities, particularly the Navy, may land a citizen in penal advanced or even worse, Asim Munir’s lavish trips were widely criticised by Pakistani social media users, with some calling it “joyride on broken backs” and “a mockery of nationwide distress.”

This isn’t the first time that Asim Munir has drawn the ire of Pakistani commoners for his hypocritical flaunting of elite privilege. Earlier, Pakistani social media erupted in fury after Munir changed into as soon as allegedly viewed procuring at a luxurious mall within the US sooner than his lunch meeting with President Donald Trump on the White Residence.

Critics of the Pakistani government, particularly the shadow Navy regime have condemned the deepening rot witnessed within the country’s governance, particularly after the ouster of used premier Imran Khan, who's within the within the meantime in penal advanced on trumped up charges. Pakistani dissidents have termed Munir’s foreign trips as decadence beneath the garb of diplomacy, noting that while the narrate preaches and imposes austerity measures on frequent electorate, its military overlords are emptying the country’s coffers with impunity.