Country’s defence budget allocation mere pennies compared to India

Defence experts and economists believe that in light of the threats being faced an increase is apt

KARACHI:

With the country facing both internal and external threats, talk of the budget being a strict one bears heavily on the defence needs of the country - which are miles away from the resources allocated to our hostile neighbour India.

Economists and defence experts are of the opinion that some increase in the defence budget is the need of the hour as the country is currently facing multiple security threats. The need becomes even more apparent given that neighbouring India has an annual defence budget allocation of 70 billion dollars compared to Pakistan’s 11 billion dollars. When asked about the possibility of a reduced budget for defence, Zia Abbas, a defence and foreign affairs analyst and senior politician, questioned that our biggest enemy has never compromised on what it spends on defence so why should we?

Abbas was of the view that despite such a huge gap in the defence budget, our armed forces are doing a good job of protecting the country. “Pakistan is once again facing an increase in terror attacks. The situation in Afghanistan is also a challenge. Modi's war frenzy and anti-Pakistan statements are also in front of everyone. Therefore, there should be some increase in the defence budget so that we can further update our security apparatuses,” the foreign affairs analyst suggested whilst talking to The Express Tribune. Concurring with Abbas’s assessment of the situation, defence analyst Lt. Gen. (retd) Amjad Shoaib, reiterated that given how hostile India has been it would be imprudent to show weakness by lowering defence spending.

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“We need to realise that the global hike in commodity prices impacts security equipment as well. So a slight increase in the budget should not be a problem.” Shoaib also said that the Pakistan Army leadership understands the economic problems of the country and has always cooperated. “Perhaps the government should reduce other unnecessary expenditures and consult the military leadership and make the budget according to the defence needs,” Shoaib added. On the other hand, Dr Shaista Tabassum, Professor of International Relations at the University of Karachi, believes that the defence budget should be tailored to the economic situation of the country.

Dr Tabassum opined that war was not the solution and Pakistan’s security issues could be solved through an integrated foreign policy and dialogue. Former federal minister for finance Abdul Hafeez Pasha cautioned that the economic situation of the country is precarious and therefore careful spending would go a long way in improving the economic outlook. As far as the defence budget is concerned, Pasha suggested, “At this time, it is important that we reform the tax system and create a defence budget according to our resources.” Pasha giving his two cents to the government, while talking to The Express Tribune, said that it should formulate an integrated economic policy and promote investment to get out of the rut it was in. While it is yet to see what the ruling coalition government will decide on who gets what given the country’s economic outlook, former federal minister Haji Hanif Tayyab, said, “The current situation of the country, especially the role of Pakistan Army in eradicating terrorism is in front of everyone. So it is not appropriate to discuss the defence budget.”