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7 per cent rise in Pakistan defence outlay

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday announced a defence outlay of Rs. 296 billion in its budget for 2008-09, an increase of seven per cent over last year.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said last week that his government would “freeze” defence spending and expressed the hope that Pakistan’s “neighbour” would do the same.

Last year, the defence allocation was Rs. 275 billion, and the government spent Rs. 2.6 billion over this.

Finance Minister Naveed Qamar, who presented the budget in the National Assembly, announced that the government would submit details of the defence outlay during the debate.

If that happens, this will be the first time defence budget details are presented to Parliament.

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