ISLAMABAD – The Ministry of Defense has insisted that a hike in allocation of funds for defence was a normal increase which has been made keeping in view all internal and external challenges posed to Pakistan.
A rare explanation from the ministry came after certain quarters, according to an official statement, misconstrued the increase in defence budget.
The statement said, “Increase in Defence Budget is being misconstrued by certain quarters, whereas the fact is that defence budget for the year 17-18 as estimated by Ministry of Finance is likely to close at Rs. 998 billion. Defence budget for the year 18-19 stands at 1100 billion which is 10.2% increase to the closing year”.
It added, “The routine yearly increase ranges between 10-12% which caters for inflation, depreciation, rise in pay etc”.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/exclusive-federal-govt-to-present-6th-budget-for-fiscal-year-2018-19-with-over-rs5-trillion-outlay-today/
It is pertinent to mention here that the government had made original allocation of Rs920bn for the outgoing fiscal year and it had been increased by 8% to Rs998bn during the year.
When the Rs1.1tr budget for the new fiscal year is compared with original Rs920bn, the overall increase turns out at 18% – the highest in decades.
The ministry, however, wants to compare the recent proposed allocation to Rs998bn for the outgoing year.
The ministry said, “The critics need to also realise the security environment that Pakistan faces today and economic determinants of security,” adding that economy of any country cannot grow without security, peace and stability.
On April 27, thirty-four days before its five-year term ends on May 31, the incumbent government presented its sixth consecutive Federal Budget for the next financial year in National Assembly with an estimated outlay of Rs 5.5 trillion.
