ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced a 17.5 percent increase in the country’s defense budget on Wednesday, saying the government had decided to allocate Rs2.12 trillion ($6.15 billion) for the country’s security needs in view of its geopolitical situation.
Pakistan’s defense budget consistently attracts media attention due to the military’s substantial role in both the political and economic arenas of the country.
The allocation of significant funds to defense sparks debates over the balance between security needs and other critical public services, such as education and health care.
Media coverage and public discussions also reflect concerns about transparency, with governments only mentioning the overall figure without sharing further details.
“Rs2.122 trillion will be provided for defense needs,” the finance minister said during his address to the National Assembly. “And Rs849 billion are being allocated for civil administration expenses.”
Last year, the defense allocation stood at Rs1.80 trillion ($5.23 billion).
According to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, the allocated amount “presents an incomplete picture of the country’s actual military expenditure.”
“A significant sum of Rs662 billion [$1.92 billion], designated for retired military personnel, which equals to about 31pc of allocation for the armed forces, will not be drawn from the defense budget, rather government’s current expenditure,” it reported.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent years, prompting its armed forces to carry out targeted operations in areas adjoining its border with Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s army and other law enforcement agencies are also responsible for the providing security to Chinese nationals working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is widely viewed as pivotal to the country’s economic security.
Militant groups have periodically targeted these Chinese workers, killing five of them earlier this year in a suicide bombing in Pakistan’s northwest while they were going to the site of a hydropower project.
Pakistan raises defense budget by 17.5% to $6.15 billion amid surge in militancy
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Pakistan raises defense budget by 17.5% to $6.15 billion amid surge in militancy
- Defense spending in Pakistan draws media focus as debates over security needs and public services persist
- Media coverage also reflects concerns about transparency, with few details available on the overall spending
Pakistan FM discusses regional developments, bilateral cooperation with Saudi, Egyptian counterparts
Pakistan FM discusses regional developments, bilateral cooperation with Saudi, Egyptian counterparts
- The development comes a day after PM Sharif received Trump’s invite to join Gaza peace board, amid Iran tensions
- Pakistani, Saudi and Egyptian FMs stress the importance of dialogue, agree to continue discussions at WEF in Davos
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday held separate telephone conversations with his Saudi and Egyptian counterparts to discuss regional developments as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation, the Pakistani foreign office said.
The statement comes a day after the foreign ministry in Islamabad said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had received an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join the so-called “Board of Peace” for Gaza.
It followed weeks of tensions over violent protests in Iran, which prompted threats from Washington of military intervention over the killing of more than 4,000 protesters, and developments in Yemen.
“Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke with Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and discussed regional developments and avenues for deeper bilateral cooperation,” the Pakistani foreign office said.
“Both leaders looked forward to continuing their discussions on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.”
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a long-standing strategic partnership in political, security and economic domains, underpinned by deep religious and cultural ties. Both countries have closely engaged with each other on regional and global developments in recent months.
Separately, Dar spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Dr. Badr Abdelatty and discussed with him the recent regional developments and ongoing bilateral and multilateral issues, according to the Pakistani foreign office.
“Both leaders emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation,” it added.
