Pakistan PM Imran Khan hails military’s ‘voluntary’ cuts

Islamabad, June 5

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has revealed that the military has agreed to slash the defence budget for the next fiscal year in line with broader austerity measures being introduced by the government.

He noted that the cuts were agreed upon despite “multiple security challenges”, the Dawn reported on Wednesday.

He further stated that the money saved would be diverted to aid the development of the merged tribal areas and Balochistan.

“I appreciate Pakistan Military’s unprecedented voluntary initiative of stringent cuts in their defence expenditures for next Financial Year because of our critical financial situation, despite multiple security challenges.

“My government will spend this money saved on development of merged tribal areas and Balochistan,” he tweeted late on Tuesday.

However, Inter-Services Public Relations, the military’s media wing, stated in a later tweet that the cuts “will not be at the cost of defence and security”, and that it was important for the military to participate in the rebuilding of Balochistan and the erstwhile tribal areas. IANS