Islamabad: The Pakistan government has
decided to hike its defence budget for the next fiscal by Rs
100 billion to about Rs 442 billion, according to a media
report on Monday.
The reason for the increase in the defence budget is the
large expenditure on the war against terrorism, Samaa news
channel quoted government documents as saying.
The documents related to the planned hike in military
spending stated that about Rs 343 billion was earmarked for
the defence budget last year.
Subsequently, the outlay was increased to Rs 378 billion
due to expenses in the campaign against terrorism, the report
said.
The documents further stated that an increase of Rs 70
billion in the defence budget was necessitated by the hike in
salaries and allowances of the armed forces.
Additional funds are also needed for purchasing equipment
for the military, the report said.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
Gilani have said the government is committed to fulfil all the
needs of the armed forces.
The budget for the financial year is expected to be
presented in parliament in the first week of June.
PTI
