Pakistan Cuts Defence Budget Between Financial Crisis: Imran Khan Applause The Move

Mumbai: Due to financial crisis Pakistan recently cuts their Defence budget for next fiscal year.

Meanwhile, Major General Asif Ghafoor, Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) — the media wing of the military, in his Twitter message, said that voluntary cuts in the defence budget for next fiscal year would not be at the cost of defence and security.

“The voluntary deduction in the defence budget for one year will not be at the cost of defence and security, we will maintain effective response capacity for all hazards, three services will manage the effect of deduction through appropriate internal measures. In the development of tribal areas and Balochistan, “said Ghafoor.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that he particularly appreciates the “unprecedented voluntary initiative of a tough cut in Pakistan defense spending” in view of the country’s financial situation.

Khan said that he is grateful for the move, which came “despite many security challenges” that face Pakistan.

Khan said that the money saved will be utilized for development in Balochistan along with the newly-settled tribal areas.

Last month, the government announced that all civil and military institutions would contribute to the austerity-oriented federal budget for 2019-20.

“The Prime Minister’s Advisor of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hafiz Sheikh had said that there will be austerity in the coming budget, we will try to keep government spending at the lowest possible level.”

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (CIPRI) said in April that in 2018 Pakistan was the world’s 20th largest military expenditure with the expenditure of US $ 11.4 billion.