Govt proposes Rs2.55tr defence spending for upcoming fiscal year

The federal government on Tuesday proposed Rs2,550 billion spending for the defence sector for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2025-26, increasing it from Rs2,122 billion compared to the previous year.

The finance minister presented the federal budget with a total outlay of Rs17.57 trillion, setting a 4.2% GDP growth target.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, the finance minister said that the country faced security challenges and the armed forces rendered commendable services for the security of the motherland.

He was referring to the Indian aggression against Pakistan, which was thwarted by the armed forces during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos last month.

The Centre also proposed a special relief allowance for officers and other ranks of the armed forces in recognition of their services. The expenditures would be covered under the defence budget, said Aurangzeb.

The military confrontation between Pakistan and India, which included cross-border strikes by both countries, came weeks after 26 tourists were killed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir's (IIOJK) Pahalgam, and India falsely blamed Pakistan for the attack.

After the incident, India killed several innocent civilians in unprovoked attacks on Pakistan before the armed forces retaliated with a successful operation.

Pakistan downed six IAF fighter jets, including three Rafales, and dozens of drones. After at least 87 hours, the war between the two nuclear-armed nations ended on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.