Open to accountability: Senate panel seeks details of defence spending
Committee seeks briefing from defence ministry, GHQ on October 18.
ISLAMABAD:
For the first time in Pakistan’s history, the thickly-veiled defence budget, which comprises the lion’s share of the national budget, may be up for public scrutiny.
The first step, in what has been a long-standing popular demand, was taken on Tuesday when a Senate panel sought details of the defence budget.
The Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production has written to the defence ministry for a briefing on spending by the military, officials directed to schedule the meeting on October 18 told The Express Tribune.
“(The) minister for defence may brief the members of the defence committee on fiscal year 2012-13’s defence budget,” reads an official letter written by the Senate panel. A copy of the letter has also been sent to military accounts, the finance ministry and other concerned departments.
“We want accountability in the defence budget. The military should present a clear-picture of its spending,” said Senator Haji Adeel, a member of the Senate panel.
“The committee will also prepare its recommendations in light of the briefing so that there is a fair system to spend billions on defence, he added.
How much to discuss?
The defence ministry will brief the lawmakers, for the first time, on the spending of Rs545 billion, which is one-sixth of this fiscal year’s total budget. Concerned departments will also brief the committee on the additional amount provided to the military under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF).
While Rs545 billion is the stated defence budget, it does not include spending on pensions to retired military personnel, and allocations to the military from the CSF. The finance ministry is hoping to receive Rs150 billion from the US on account of CSF pledges this year. Total allocation to defence, therefore, will top Rs913billion, or 31% of next year’s Rs2.96 trillion budget.
Chairman of the Senate panel, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, has directed authorities to write to all concerned departments to be well prepared for the briefing. Officials from the General Headquarters and ministry of finance will attend the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2012.
For the first time in Pakistan’s history, the thickly-veiled defence budget, which comprises the lion’s share of the national budget, may be up for public scrutiny.
The first step, in what has been a long-standing popular demand, was taken on Tuesday when a Senate panel sought details of the defence budget.
The Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production has written to the defence ministry for a briefing on spending by the military, officials directed to schedule the meeting on October 18 told The Express Tribune.
“(The) minister for defence may brief the members of the defence committee on fiscal year 2012-13’s defence budget,” reads an official letter written by the Senate panel. A copy of the letter has also been sent to military accounts, the finance ministry and other concerned departments.
“We want accountability in the defence budget. The military should present a clear-picture of its spending,” said Senator Haji Adeel, a member of the Senate panel.
“The committee will also prepare its recommendations in light of the briefing so that there is a fair system to spend billions on defence, he added.
How much to discuss?
The defence ministry will brief the lawmakers, for the first time, on the spending of Rs545 billion, which is one-sixth of this fiscal year’s total budget. Concerned departments will also brief the committee on the additional amount provided to the military under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF).
While Rs545 billion is the stated defence budget, it does not include spending on pensions to retired military personnel, and allocations to the military from the CSF. The finance ministry is hoping to receive Rs150 billion from the US on account of CSF pledges this year. Total allocation to defence, therefore, will top Rs913billion, or 31% of next year’s Rs2.96 trillion budget.
Chairman of the Senate panel, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, has directed authorities to write to all concerned departments to be well prepared for the briefing. Officials from the General Headquarters and ministry of finance will attend the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2012.