ISLAMABAD
Defence budget has not been enhanced in the national budget for the fiscal 2022-23. According to defence sources we will have to make critical and comparative review of the defence budget keeping in view perception of threat, challenges facing the country and deployment of Pakistan army.
The ever growing defence budget of the enemy has always remained a challenge for our armed forces but despite it our armed forces are criticized.
During the last two years army budget has not been increased. In the perspective of prevailing mammoth threat defence budget constitutes 2 percent of GDP. The defence budget of India stands at 70 billion dollars while Pakistan defence budget comes to 11 billion dollars.
India spends on its every soldier four times more than Pakistan annually.
Pakistan spends 13400 dollars per annum on every soldier, India 42000 dollars, US 392000 dollars , Iran 23000 dollars while Saudi Arabia spends 371000 dollars.
India is the third largest country in terms of annual defence budget.
The defence experts said the defence budget of India is 7 times larger than Pakistan. India remained the 2nd biggest country in importing arms in the world during the period from 2016 to 2020. India spends 18 to 19 billion dollars annually on the purchase of modern arms which is two time higher than Pakistan budget.
Let us what is the defence budget of other countries.
The defence budget of Saudi Arabia stands at 55.6 billion dollars, China’s defence budget 293 billion dollars, Iran defence budget 24.6 billion dollars, UAE defence budget 22.5 billion dollars and Turkey defence budget is 20.7 billion dollars.
Let us see what is defence budget of Pakistan.
As per defence sources the defence budget of Pakistan for the financial year 2021-22 constituted 16 percent of national budget. 7 percent out of it goes to Pakistan army and the remaining goes to Navy and Air Force. Pakistan defence budget stands practically curtailed considerably since the last several years due to inflation.
If we draw comparison of inflation ratio then the inflation ratio for the current financial year has been recorded 11.3 percent. Have armed forces not made the defence of the country invincible within this 2 percent GDP. Have Pakistan not performed against the COVID-19 during it. Have we not fortified defence of our western border through fencing and construction of border forts within this budget.
Defence budget remained freezed in financial year 2019-20 in the face of economic situation of the country. No increase was made in the salaries of Pakistan army in the fiscal year 2020-21. During the current fiscal year the rupee was devalued 52 percent . Despite it the defence requirements were met within the available resources. The defence and security requirements were fulfilled through national resources despite suspension of coalition support fund after 2018. No curtailment was made in the scope and target of operation Raddul fasaad and other security matters .
Pakistan army and welfare institutions of Pakistan army paid over Rs 935 billion under the head of tax and duties.
