Budget 2014: Govt announces 700bn defence budget

Defence expenditure almost doubled in last five years.


Defence expenditure almost doubled in last five years.

ISLAMABD: Defense budget has been jacked up to Rs700. 2 billion for the 2014-15 fiscal year fiscal year beginning on July 1, compared with Rs 627.2 billion allocated in the outgoing fiscal year, showing an increase of Rs 73 billion.

The military, however, had sought an increase of Rs 173 billion in defence spending for the coming fiscal year.

Military officials defended the increase insisting that Pakistan military’s expanses are lowest in the region given the volatile security environment.

The budget document presented before the parliament did not give a break up about the allocation of defence spending among the three forces.

But according to defence ministry officials, out of the whole defence budget, Pakistan Army gets 48 per cent while 20pc goes to Pakistan Air force and Navy’s share is 10pc.

According to the budget document 2014-15, out of that Rs 700.2 billion, Rs 293.5 billion have been allocated for employees related expenses, Rs 180.2 billion for operating expenses and Rs 152.8 billion have been earmarked for physical assets.

However, the figures do not include Rs 163.4 billion allocated for pensions of the military personnel that would be given from the civilian budget and a separate allocation for the security related expenses in a move, which critics say seeks to conceal the actual defense budget.

In addition to this, military would also be given Rs 165 billion under the contingent liability and Rs 85 billion under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF).

This means that in reality a whopping Rs 1113 billion has been allocated for the military, which is about 28.2 percent of the country’s total budget.

While reviewing the budget brief of previous years, it was revealed that in last five years while the defence expenditure has been almost doubled from around 350 billion in 2009-10 to Rs700 billion this year, the rate at which it has been increasing has been diminishing.



In 2009-10, government increased the defence budget by 21.46 per cent, which was reduced to 17.58 per cent in 2010-11. In 2011-12 the defines expenditure was raised at the rate of 14.73, which further slipped to 11.79 per cent in 2012-13.



Defense budget has remained a sensitive and controversial subject in the country and there have been calls for greater scrutiny of the spending.

The defense budget has never been debated in detail in the Parliament.

But Senate’s Defence Committee has recently taken the initiative to publicly discuss the military spending.

Pakistan raises its defense spending every year because of its historically uneasy relations with old rival India.

India earlier this year boosted military spending by 10 per cent for the coming year as it seeks to counter China’s rapid military build-up and its traditional rival Pakistan.

Defense analysts believe given the internal security challenges much of the increase in the defense budget by Pakistan is likely to be spent on the fight against militancy.


 

COMMENTS (24)

Muhammad | 9 years ago | Reply

Good to read thoughtful analysis. I would tend to agree with Mr. Aftab Rameez. He's right when he says that we must know the whole truth before we comment. One thing to remember is that there is nothing like free lunch. Every one whether armed forces or our civilian brethren, all have to pay for what they do and what they get. What all civilians think about armed forces are misconceptions and I know that all defence personnel pay for whatever benefits their institution manages for them. Visit Sialkot cantonment and city and feel the difference. This difference is because of better institutional management. What they think about themselves, both sides, are again misconceptions. What is need to be understood is that we all need to excel in our respective fields. If our civil society was more dynamic, Pakistan would not be so low. Why do we face enery crisis because noone after Mr. Ayub Khan took the pain to make new dams. Why do we face terrorism because our generals and statesmen(politicians) failed to read the foreign narratives and vested interested and took the bait. We can go on and on blaming both sides, but in my opinion what is important is that we understand what we need to do to move on. There is no use crying over spoiled milk. We must in our capacities work sincerely to make a better Pakistan. Defense is a necessity and this institution is pride of every nation. USA spends US $ 900 Bn on their defense, ours is just 0.08 % of it. India spends US $ 46 Bn on defense. Defense is our necessity and so is a vibrant civil society. Young people it is good that future of Pakistan thinks about betterment of our motherland. We must do it for National Unity keeping National interest supreme and I have no doubt that Pakistan has a very bright future. Read history, France was exactly facing same kind of problems in eighteenth century, what we face today and than they changed. Only thing needing correction is Direction. May Allah bless you all, Aameen.

aftab rameez | 9 years ago | Reply

I read almost all comments and feel sad about those who have misconceptions about defence spending.These people really need to improve their Knowledge before commenting and penning down anything.These facilities are not unique to Defence Forces of Pakistan .All nations of the world provide same facilities to their armed forces to keep their morale high.This is the job where you are paid for your life,the most precious thing one has.Secondly noting is free in armed forces.It is only through better management that one is benefited.All officers pay for their plots and house throughout their service.Just think that maximum of officers get retired at early age where they have to look for another job after giving their youth and prime time for the country.But unfortunately people having misguided concepts can't understand all this.

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