Of the total Rs627.2 billion, Rs271.2 billion have been allocated for employees-related expenses, Rs162.2 billion for operating expenses and Rs131.3 billion for physical assets. PHOTO: EXPRESS/
Mohammad Noman.
Pakistan has increased its defence spending by 15% for the coming fiscal year, as the military remains engaged in fighting a deadly Taliban insurgency in the strife-torn tribal regions.
The defence budget has been jacked up to Rs627.2 billion for the financial year beginning July 1, compared to Rs545.3 billion allocated in the outgoing fiscal year, showing an increase of Rs82 billion.
However, against the original allocation of Rs545.3 billion, the military overspent Rs25 billion, raising the total expenditure to Rs570 billion in 2012-13.
According to the budget document, the lion’s share went to the army which got Rs301.54 billion, followed by the air force with Rs131.18 billion and the navy with Rs62.80 billion.
Of the total Rs627.2 billion, Rs271.2 billion have been allocated for employees-related expenses, Rs162.2 billion for operating expenses and Rs131.3 billion for physical assets.
However, the figures do not include over Rs132.7 billion allocated for pensions of the retired military personnel that would be paid from the civilian budget and a separate allocation for the security-related expenses, a move which critics say seeks to conceal the actual defence spending.
In addition to this, the military will also be given Rs150 billion under the contingent liability, Rs70 billion under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) and Rs35 billion has been allocated for the military’s services to the UN peacekeeping missions in the coming fiscal year. This means a whopping Rs1,014 billion have been allocated for the military, which is about 28.2% of the country’s total budget.
The defence budget – which has never been properly debated in Parliament – has remained a sensitive and controversial subject in Pakistan and there have been calls for greater scrutiny of the spending.
Pakistan raises its defence spending every year because of its historically uneasy relations with arch-rival India. India earlier this year boosted military spending by 21% to $42.7 billion for the coming year as it seeks to counter China’s rapid military build-up and its traditional rival Pakistan as well.
Defence analysts believe that given the internal security challenges much of the increase in the defence budget by Pakistan is likely to be spent on the fight against militancy.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2013.
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@Ammara: Will you sign up for a job in which your life is at stake? will you go in siachen glachiers or in deep sea(submarine) or in india's border on an order of your boss??? obviously nooo... so those who just sign up for these jobs require such type of compensations in order to keep themselves and their families motivated( you will come to know if you have lil bill know how of Human resource management) thankyou
You guys are weird. Please think twice before posting hate-filled comments against Pakistan Army.
Unless you are Indian trolls. Then, do as you please.
I also want to add something that Pakistan Armed force are running bakeries, petrol pump, property business. So they are also getting profit form these thing.. They are eating pakistan and yet haven't won even a single war against India...
Every country has its defense needs and as former colonies both India and Pakistan need to have a strong defense
There is nothing wrong in taking care of that.
Can somebody tell me any military war that this Army has won?
The last war any military man from the area constituted by today's Pakistan won is World War II, which they fought under British crown...
Pakistan's total budget is 35 billion and India's defense budget is $40 billion. Have not Pakistani economists heard of USSR? Very interesting.
@Ammara: Why are the pensions for armed forces paid from civilian budget? Mam first of all its not civilian budget its Pakistan's budget and army personal are govt employee.
Why there are no plots for school teachers once they retire? Do you know how this system works for plot... Army acquire land from the share cut from every arm personal pay (not from budget) and they develop it with the same money and at the end arm personal pay for it. Plots are not free. Tell ministry of education to implement the same system.
Why doesn’t the family of a doctor enjoy subsidized travel on state rail and airline ? Please do a research on welfare projects of world wide armies you will have your answer. And this subsidy is again paid by GHQ in full to PIA and Railway (not from budget but from their income of different welfare projects)
India's budget is also unnecessarily high - mainly due to Pakistani based terrorists.
Countries like S.Korea, Japan, Australia etc can focus all their resources on development as the Americans guarantee their security at zero cost. Poor countries like India and Pakistan have to waste so many resources because of foolish decision in 1947 to divide British India into two parts.
@gp65: India's military budget is about $47 Billion, not $1.6 trillion - that number would be total GDP in 2010.
@K B Kale: India’s population is almost 5 times that of Pakistan, so isn’t a defense budget 4 times bigger than that of Pakistan normal? . Correction : India's Population is Six Times Pakistan Population and the Indian Economy is about Nine Times the Economy of Pakistan. . As such Equal is Equal to Equal requires that with India's Annual Defence Budget-Spending being US$ 40, Pakistan's Annual Defence Budget-Spending should not be more that US$ 5 Billion. . Cheers
@Umar: "most of the perks enjoyed by military are a standard package all over the world"
So you have been told. Indian COAS does not drive a series 7 BMW and they are not entitled to 3 prime property plots upon retirement either. This is an army that has defeated yours in every single war that has been fought.
Well, its Pakistan's money and they may spend it anyway they like...after all each country has its priorities.
Every country need defense budget according to its ground reality. But in present budget it has one big doughnut hole. It is education & health. Education allocation is .06% & health is 1.28%. Total under 2% whole budget. Other country policy maker know very well that Education & health is big part of any defense of their country. Just check budget allocation on both sector by your friend China. (I don't want drag India into it, as it may offend many) (ET Mod please read comment before you censor it)
The military budget is already bankrupting the country and a 15% increase is ridiculous. More importantly can anyone describe where that money is being spent? What major campaigns are being waged - how man soldiers are in the field - or even what short term or long term goals are planned? The reality is that the military isn't doing it's job and it's not because they don't have sufficient money.
The PM who starts stuttering when questioned on his intention to try Musharraf, is being expected to curtail defense spending..what a joke..most of the perks enjoyed by military are a standard package all over the world..while there always are welfare schemes for Armed Forces members in every military varying from country to country..the civilian govt is most welcome to resolve outstanding issues with India and WoT..as that would ensure a reduction in defense spending..but ofcourse the poor government is a child with its hands tied held hostage by the powerful military on these matters..
@ K B Bale "And, unlike Pakistan, India faces strong, well-equipped adversaries on all fronts!" india has Pakistan on one side if u haven't noticed yet, Bangladesh,Nepal,Bhutan and China aswell... u still think all of them are "well equipped" :) (MINUS CHINA OFCOURSE)
@Bewildered, Can you tell us what what our holy forces are doing. They are doing nothing man even for a single day except those doctors and engineers who are in the ranks. However yes indeed they are doing hefty business when it comes to Real Estate, Fertilizer, Retail Chain, Cement, Logistics operations etc. Sheer burden on the economy.
Everybody including the military understands that the way forward is not through an increase in military budget, but a reduction and reallocation to more long-term strategically beneficial projects like education, industry, health, etc. Except that our politicians and military are too selfish to take this path, because that means no more sarkari vehicles, commissions, and most importantly, power. Pakistans budget is $6.2 bn vs indians $42b. Does anybody think we can match india anymore when it comes to raw military strength? Just an increase of 15% in indias military budget is Pakistans WHOLE military budget. Yes, the military is necessary. But if we can improve our relationships with our neighbours, educate and economically improve our impoverished civilians, and most importantly improve our reputation in the geopolitical sphere over time we can re-allocate this budget. but its not going to happen because we are a selfish people and none of us (including PTI, PML, PPP, or the military) do anything that values our nation over our own short term well-being.
That's not so strange considering we're in a state of war.
Don't worry. It will be increased more after six months. They always need Lion's Share.
@Ammara:
"Why are the pensions for armed forces paid from civilian budget? Why there are no plots for school teachers once they retire? Why doesn’t the family of a doctor enjoy subsidized travel on state rail and airline ?"
Who is stopping you to join army and get all the benefits, with the added bonus of a chance for achieving martyrdom. All your problems solved. By the way, why would a doctor need subsidized 10 Marla plot while he is already living in a 4 canal bungalow. And what to talk about teachers who get paid in full for officially doing nothing for whole 3 months - most don't do much for the rest 9 months either. Teaching is the most well paid job in Pakistan compared to the amount of work they do. The academy in my neighborhood, the teachers there come in brand new sedan cars indicating how much they earn through this 'extra' work.
@gp65: India does not have USD. 1.6 trillion. "Cults, or related social movements such as the Taliban in Afghanistan, result in massive military expenses".........Keith Henson (Brainyquotes)
The employee related expenses of PKR. 271 billion can be inquired into, which is the expenditure on human resources of the armed forces. Nevertheless, the pension expenses can easily be included in the Defense Budget and then the human resource related expenditure will shoot up to PKR 404 billion (133+271). The armed forces will have to take a lot of flak for the monolithic defense allocation on human resources against allocations for operations and assets acquisition.
Do our civilian leaders who come to parliament, ever perform honestly? Are they not ‘jelebis?' Their guiding principle is loot and plunder, which has acquired such importance and prominence that a National Museum of Corruption should be constructed in the PM House.
"The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home".........James Madison
as they say, it not Pakistan's Army, Its Army's Pakistan where we, the ordinary citizens, are there to financially protect Army's masses
@Usman: I thought the argument was that if the US leaves the terrorists will also disappear....so you are trying to create a bogeyman now
@Ms Ammara (Top most comment)
Lets give all the professionals the same perks and privileges. Right? But lets also kill each one of them every time a soldier dies fighting the odds against the homeland. I hope its fair?
@sm: Have you checked the Indian ecomony figures as well???? their growth rate and GDP? Pakistan is propotionately not near to that......... KEEP THE GROUND REALITIES OF PAKISTAN ECONOMY AS WELL........ there is not justification of Indian increase in Def Budget........ it is silly.
Its high time to stop comparing with India , the way things are going we are reaching african countries situations , more than the defense we need to resolve our economic crisis. every time the defense budget is jacked up , India does the same and so does pakistan its like a tit for tat , and thats why both the army's are constantly creating some kind of insecurity because simply if the dont they wont be able to justify the huge budget allocations ! , this is the situation on both side of the border ! So both the Armies on the border would not want peaceful 10 years !
The actual defense budget is 1047 billion and PMLn should not have lied to us by saying it is only 627 billion. This shows they are not sincere in declaring defense budget to the public.
Why we increase Defense budget every year ?? Recently Indian fighter planes were roaming in Pakistani Territory like it was there place... Why wasting MONEY on army instead of this invest it in education, it will bring something good, I am sure...
Spending on Defence Budget is a necessity, not a luxury, unlike motorways which are just an eye wash to gain political mileage. Defence, Education and Health sectors, all three need a major injection from the Govt. because they will bring stability to the masses. Blaming all evils on the Defence budget will not achieve anything, whether our Armed Forces are India centric or not. . NATO is about to withdraw in 2014 and this will cause a massive influx of terrorist from across the border into FATA, KP and Balochistan, who will tackle this? Forget India, we have enough Defence needs as we stand.
I am not sure if 12th standard educated military is above school teachers with bachelors degree. In a country like Finland only the best of the best become school teachers. A country can progress without a military, but not without good teachers.
@Pakistani: Dead wrong. It is Pakistani who is in this difficult period, not PAK ARMY, they are living in load shedding free areas.
UN & collation support funds, does not come from taxpayers money. Anyway, armed forces are part of Govt, not separate, and who is stopping Govt to make Police, Healthcare, Schools & Judiciary be least corrupt & provide better services to public at large??? The only problem people have with army are the "plots", well, many other Govt institutes get this facility as well! and numerous perks! Free tickets for PIA employees, free electricity for Wapda employees & all of them get free healthcare too! Army has corruption as well, but it is not at the level that our beloved Govt reached in last 5 years. Get hold of yours facts, people are again looking towards army for help, but I'd like to see 5 years more so that everyone understands what kind of democracy do we have.
@gp65: Yes because India has been growing above 6% consistently. We are facing difficult times but I am disappointed to see that our military is not willing to sacrifice a single penny to help the civilian government. It would have been excellent if military would have also announced some austerity measures (at least for the perks enjoyed by higher command) but they haven't. They are not keen to be a stakeholder in the concept of better and economically stronger Pakistan.
If this defence budget produces "tiger niazis" then we should get rid of it totally.
@Ammara: Exactly..
@gp65: 1.5 billion population, of India, against 180 million population of Pakistan, plz add this as well before you talk about budget =)
Money well spent. TOTALLY worth it.
This is what we exactly need at this juncture when we cannot take care of power shortages, poverty, healthcare, ignorance and civilian infrastructure and protect the population against terrorists. We are more than happy to eat grass and dirty water but raise huge army with nuclear bombs to keep us safe from the rag tag terrorists.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram raised defence spending to 2.03 trillion Indian rupees ($37.45 billion) for the fiscal year starting April 1, up 5.3 per cent from 2012-13 when the budget stood at 1.93 trillion Indian rupees. read the highlighted part carefully an compare with what is published in ET
India reins in defence spending
Spending plan: India hikes defence budget by 5.3%
I vote for Mr/Ms Ammara! "Why are the pensions for armed forces paid from civilian budget? Why there are no plots for school teachers once they retire? Why doesn’t the family of a doctor enjoy subsidized travel on state rail and airline ? One can only wish that one day civilian govt becomes strong enough to curtail the massive perks which military men and their families enjoy." And all these expenses over defense forces that appear to be reluctant to take on Taliban militants! India's population is almost 5 times that of Pakistan, so isn't a defense budget 4 times bigger than that of Pakistan normal? And, unlike Pakistan, India faces strong, well-equipped adversaries on all fronts!
For a second there I thought they're injecting more into Defence, as in Karachi's area, Defence. Stopped myself from swearing once I read the comments haha!
This means a military operation is coming against the TTP in North Waziristan.
Rs 627.2 divided 100 = $6.272 Billions cannot beat India's defence spending.
This is pale in comparison to India's US $ 1.6 trillion dollars.
1,014 billion well spent. i think it should be doubled to support PAK ARMY in this difficult period as they are the one suffering most in war against terrorism and giving there lives so we may live in peace.
And PML N trolls were arguing that Nawaz Sharif will reign in the military and cut mly expenditure. LOL !
So our budget is ten billion dollars against indias 42
Good to see defense is increased but how much of this money is allocated for equipment purchases.It is urgent for us to up the tank battalions and the air force.
Why are the pensions for armed forces paid from civilian budget? Why there are no plots for school teachers once they retire? Why doesn't the family of a doctor enjoy subsidized travel on state rail and airline ? One can only wish that one day civilian govt becomes strong enough to curtail the massive perks which military men and their families enjoy.