{Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction and does not present itself as the truth. Learn to take a joke; you’ll live longer.}
RAWALPINDI — Dismissing what he called “unfounded stereotypes” about the country’s MilBus conglomerates, the CEO of Frontier Strategic Holdings Limited (FSHL) insisted Wednesday that running a MilBus enterprise is “back-breaking work”—a statement he delivered while gliding between the 4th and 5th holes during his daily mid-afternoon golf review meeting.
Pausing briefly to select a driver handed to him by an aide whose official title is “Deputy Director Golf Logistics,” the CEO stressed that critics simply do not understand the pressures faced by defence-adjacent corporations.
“People think we have unlimited land, zero competition, and guaranteed contracts,” he said, squinting at the fairway with the burdened expression of a man whose turf maintenance budget exceeds the annual development budget of two districts. “But they don’t see the grind. Just this morning, I had to attend a 25-minute board meeting in person. I barely had time to finish my post-breakfast nap.”
According to the CEO, misconceptions about MilBus ease often come from “armchair economists” who ignore the countless operational challenges faced by the sector.
“You try coordinating dividends with five different pension funds while also keeping track of which housing scheme is launching which phase,” he said, wagging a gloved finger. “It’s an intense environment. Just last week, we had to push the ribbon-cutting of Phase-VIII Extension-II Block C to Monday. Do you know what that does to stakeholder morale?”
He further noted that MilBus companies face the same market forces as everyone else.
“Sure, we have some advantages,” he admitted, lining up his next shot as two uniformed assistants held umbrellas for optimal shade. “But at the end of the day, we operate in a competitive landscape. For example, have you ever tried bidding for a government contract when you don’t know whether your own sister corporation is also bidding? It’s chaos.”
The CEO brushed aside allegations that MilBus firms enjoy unfair privileges such as tax benefits, regulatory exemptions, and automatic land allotments.
“That’s such a reductive view,” he said. “People forget the sheer stress we feel when NOC approvals are delayed by up to 48 hours. That’s two whole days of uncertainty. Sometimes, I can’t even focus on my swing.”
As he stepped onto the 5th tee, the CEO reiterated that these stereotypes damage the hard-working image of the MilBus sector.
“At the end of the day, we’re just like any other business,” he said, before instructing his secretary to move a low-hanging branch that had been “affecting productivity.”
He then excused himself to attend an “urgent operations meeting” at the clubhouse café, where a light lunch had been pre-set.
