PM lauds as military refuses increment in defence budget

ISLAMABAD: In an unprecedented move for the betterment of national economy, Pakistan’s armed forces have decided to not to receive an increased share under defence budget, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

The announcement was made by the Prime Minister Imran Khan in his latest Twitter message. PM Khan said that the top brass of Pakistan military decided a make a ‘voluntary initiative’ for not receiving any rise under defence budget.

Read More: PM Khan chairs meeting to overview budget 2019-20 preparations

The premier praised the military troops for its decision. PM Khan said that he appreciates Pakistan military for ‘unprecedented voluntary initiative of stringent cuts in their defence expenditures for next FY [fiscal year] bec [because] of our critical financial situation, despite multiple security challenges.’

The premier announced to spend the saved money for the development of merged tribal areas (erstwhile Federal Administered Tribal Areas) and specifically Balochistan.

I appreciate Pak Mil’s unprecedented voluntary initiative of stringent cuts in their defence expenditures for next FY bec of our critical financial situation, despite multiple security challenges. My govt will spend this money saved on dev of merged tribal areas & Balochistan.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 4, 2019

Read More: Common man to get relief in next budget, says Hafeez Sheikh

 

Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, termed the move as an example of strong civil-military coordination to take out the country from severe crisis in term of governance and economy.

“Not a small step at all, only a strong Civil-Mily Coordination can rescue Pakistan from the deep problems of Governance and economy … shows a complete trust on the leadership of PM by an important institution,” the minister said in his Twitter message.

Not a small step at all, only a strong Civil-Mily Coordination can rescue Pakistan from the deep problems of Governance and economy … shows a complete trust on the leadership of PM by an important institution https://t.co/H52qIUqQ1r

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) June 4, 2019

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting of his economic team in Islamabad to discuss budget for the next fiscal year.

The meeting discussed key features of Pakistan’s federal budget for the fiscal year 2018-19.

The government will announce its budget for the new fiscal year on Tuesday, June 11.

The officials gave detailed briefing to Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding the revenue and expenditures and the state of the economy.