Cut in budget will not impact defense capabilities – Military Chief

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan military chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that voluntary decision to forego even the routine increase in the annual defense budget is “not a favor to the nation as we are one, through thick and thin.”
Gen Bajwa said this while taking to soldiers on Eid Day in Pakistani Kashmir near Line of Control(LOC). He offered prayer with troops on front line and added that “irrespective of the voluntary cut in defense budget coming financial year (FY), there shall be no impact on our response potential to all types of threat and quality of life of the soldiers,” military media wing ISPR said in a statement.
“The no pay raise decision is also only for the officers and not for the soldiers. We shall manage the shortfall during the FY by tightening our belt in areas where it doesn’t effect the two aforesaid aspects,” Gen Bajwa said.
Pakistan army has agreed in a rare move to cut the defense budget for the next fiscal year in line with broader austerity measures because of financial crunch.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Tuesday, night took to the twitter to revealed that the Pakistan army has agreed to slash the defense budget for the next fiscal year.
“I appreciate Pak Mil’s [Military] unprecedented voluntary initiative of stringent cuts in their defense expenditures for next FY [Fiscal Year] bec of our critical financial situation, despite multiple security challenges. My govt will spend this money saved on dev of merged tribal areas & Balochistan,” PM Khan Tweet read.
“It is good move and comes at a time when country is facing serious financial and economic crisis. It also shows the army’s high command is people friendly,” defense analyst Lt. Gen. (Retired) Talat Masood told Arab News.
He said this cut will not have any major impact on armed forces fighting capabilities because “most of cuts at the defense expenditure would be on the administrative sides,” Gen (Ret) Masood said.
“In not seeking any increment to their budget, not even that to match inflation, the armed forces has demonstrated their sensitivity to the difficult economic conditions the country faces,” economic analyst, Imperial College London Graduate, Javed Hassan told Arab News.
Hassan said that this gestures also exhibits the military chief’s appreciation of the fact that ensuring healthy economy is as critical for national security as is maintaining defense material and personal capabilities.
“The armed forces standing together with the government despite external and internal threats will strengthen the latter’s resolve to institute necessary economic reforms that has to be undertaken to rejuvenate the economy for long-term sustainable and equitable growth,” Hassan said.
Prime Minister Khan’s adviser and de facto finance chief Abdul Hafeez Shaikh next week on ,June 11, is scheduled to announce the budget for the financial year beginning in July.
Finance Chief, Shaikh in tweet also appreciated the Armed Forces leadership for limiting their budget and thus contributing toward government drive of managing expenditures, reducing the fiscal deficit and achieving economic stability. “All of us have to play our role in meeting our national goals,” Shaikh’s tweet read.