AVN 66.93 Decreased By ▼ -0.17 (-0.25%)
BAFL 29.54 Decreased By ▼ -0.21 (-0.71%)
BOP 4.06 Decreased By ▼ -0.01 (-0.25%)
CNERGY 3.62 Decreased By ▼ -0.11 (-2.95%)
DFML 11.94 Decreased By ▼ -0.31 (-2.53%)
DGKC 43.26 Decreased By ▼ -2.10 (-4.63%)
EPCL 45.97 Decreased By ▼ -1.03 (-2.19%)
FCCL 11.81 Decreased By ▼ -0.19 (-1.58%)
FFL 5.91 Decreased By ▼ -0.04 (-0.67%)
FLYNG 6.04 Decreased By ▼ -0.14 (-2.27%)
GGL 11.41 Decreased By ▼ -0.48 (-4.04%)
HUBC 68.11 Decreased By ▼ -0.39 (-0.57%)
HUMNL 5.64 Decreased By ▼ -0.08 (-1.4%)
KAPCO 24.91 Decreased By ▼ -0.34 (-1.35%)
KEL 2.13 Decreased By ▼ -0.01 (-0.47%)
LOTCHEM 24.95 Decreased By ▼ -0.41 (-1.62%)
MLCF 24.91 Decreased By ▼ -0.79 (-3.07%)
NETSOL 75.92 Decreased By ▼ -1.88 (-2.42%)
OGDC 85.99 Decreased By ▼ -2.13 (-2.42%)
PAEL 11.11 Decreased By ▼ -0.54 (-4.64%)
PIBTL 3.99 Decreased By ▼ -0.13 (-3.16%)
PPL 66.27 Decreased By ▼ -2.44 (-3.55%)
PRL 12.92 Decreased By ▼ -0.33 (-2.49%)
SILK 0.87 Decreased By ▼ -0.01 (-1.14%)
SNGP 40.72 Decreased By ▼ -0.98 (-2.35%)
TELE 7.57 Decreased By ▼ -0.40 (-5.02%)
TPLP 15.05 Decreased By ▼ -0.37 (-2.4%)
TRG 110.33 Decreased By ▼ -2.23 (-1.98%)
UNITY 13.52 Decreased By ▼ -0.58 (-4.11%)
WTL 1.21 Decreased By ▼ -0.02 (-1.63%)
BR100 4,081 Decreased By -61.9 (-1.49%)
BR30 14,631 Decreased By -307.2 (-2.06%)
KSE100 40,376 Decreased By -501.9 (-1.23%)
KSE30 14,916 Decreased By -172.3 (-1.14%)
Pakistan

DG ISPR defends annual defence budget allocation

  • Military's spokesperson says India has been expanding its budget but Pakistan has not increased its allocation since 2020
Published June 14, 2022
Follow us

Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar on Tuesday defended the annual defence budget allocation for fiscal year 2022-23, saying that the share had decreased if factors such as inflation and rupee depreciation were taken into account.

In the budget presented on Friday, a sum of Rs1,527 billion was allocated to defence services for 2022-23, an increase of 11.2% from the original estimates for the current year. Total defence allocation for the next fiscal year (2022-23) is also 15.8% of the total budget and 2.1% of GDP against 16.19% and 2.5%, respectively, in the current fiscal year.

The original allocation for the outgoing fiscal year was Rs1.37 trillion which was revised upwards to Rs1.48 trillion. The defence budget does not include pensions estimated at Rs395 billion (and itemized under current expenditure) which reflect a 9.7 percent increase from last year — while other major defence-related procurements and strategic programmes are not itemised in the budget including the nuclear weapons programme.

In an interview with anchor Kamran Shahid on Dunya News show 'On the front', DG Iftikhar said that the money earmarked for defence services was based on the "threat perception, challenges, deployment, and the resources available".

"So [after] considering at all these things, the army hasn't had any [net] increase in the budget since 2020," the DG ISPR claimed.

IMF says Pakistan budget needs additional measures to meet goals

"When you look at inflation and rupee depreciation, it (defence budget) is actually reduced. It was 2.8% of GDP last year and now we are at 2.2% so the budget is continuously going down in GDP terms."

Comparing Pakistan's defence budget with India, DG ISPR said that the neighbouring country has been expanding its budget but Pakistan had not increased its allocation since 2020.

Rs 1526.6 billion set aside for defence services

“If you look at the defence budget from an inflationary perspective, then it has been reduced. The budget of the armed force, compared to the GDP, is constantly going down,” said Maj Gen Iftikhar.

Talking about Pervez Musharraf's health, he said the military leadership believes that the former army chief should return to the country.

“We have contacted his family. Once his family responds, we can make the required arrangements,” he said.

Talking about Pakistan and China's bilateral relationship, he said that the Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s recent visit to China was very important, adding that Beijing has played an important role in increasing Pakistan’s defence prowess.

Comments

Comments are closed.

Fayyaz Baqir Jun 14, 2022 11:39pm
Pakistan’s best defence is high quality universal education for its youth. If our hearts and minds are lit up we can defeat the enemy without spilling a drop of blood. That is how we created Pakistan. We need to double our budget for education.
thumb_up Recommended (0)

DG ISPR defends annual defence budget allocation

Government should make Toshakhana records from 1990 to 2001 public: LHC

At least 10 dead, 62 injured in KPK after strong earthquake

Rupee strengthens against US dollar, settles at 283.20

‘Pakistan is running out of time,’ warns PBC as IMF programme hangs in balance

KSE-100 falls over 500 points owing to IMF programme uncertainty

Only 50% of deemed income tax be paid at the moment: SC grants interim order

Energy transmission lines to be set up in Thar by April 30: PM Shehbaz

Electricity generation dips 4% in February as economic slowdown continues

Import restrictions: Bannu Woollen Mills shuts production for 6 weeks

US Fed mulls more rate hikes amid banking uncertainty