Pakistan Army Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar has said that due to factors like inflation in the ...
Pakistan Army Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar has said that due to factors like inflation in the budget allocation for the financial year 2022-23 and depreciation of the rupee. The defense budget was now 2.2 percent of GDP, up from 2.8 percent last year.
Talking to Dunya News program 'On the Front' anchor person Kamran Shahid, Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar said that the visit of Chief of Army Staff to China was very important.
He said that Pakistan's strategic and relations with China are very important. General Qamar Javed Bajwa was the first Army Chief to meet President Xi Jinping. China has always stood by us. The purpose of this visit was to strengthen relations. Relations with Pakistan are very important for peace in the region.
'Defense budget debate always starts'
He said that China has played an important role in enhancing Pakistan's defense capability, there has been no reduction in security related to Pak-China Economic Corridor (C-PAC), work is being done on C-PAC at government level, Progress is being made, several memoranda have been signed during the visit to China, and the visit will have far-reaching effects.
Read also: Armed forces should be kept away from political discourse in the best interest of the country, ISPR
Major General Babar Iftikhar said that whenever budget is presented, there is always debate on defense budget. Defense budget is kept in view of threat perception, challenges, nature of deployment and resources. Yes, we are fulfilling all our responsibilities within our limited resources.
A spokesman for the Pakistan Army said, "On the contrary, you see India's growing defense budget. India has increased its defense budget while Pakistan Army is reducing utility expenditure. India's defense budget is increasing, given the enemy's capability." We must be ready at all times, our past also shows that we have always had challenges from there.
DG ISPR said that at present India has 1.3 million troops while our army is 5.5 million. At present, 50 percent of the army is stationed on the eastern border while 40 percent of the army is stationed on the western border. Contributes to cantonment and sometimes internal security and sometimes engages in natural disasters.
The Pakistani forces have not increased their budget since 2020. The defense budget has been reduced due to inflation. The defense budget is going down in terms of GDP. However, we have not reduced our military capabilities. Granted, at the moment we have reduced the defense budget by Rs. 100 billion which needs to be understood.
Also read: Notice of the Propaganda Campaign on 'Army and Society'
Major General Babar Iftikhar further said that the Chief of Army Staff has directed that the exercises should be carried out on a small scale instead of on a large scale. Savings are being made in utility bills, diesel, petrol.
'Fuji Foundation contributes Rs 150 billion, Army Welfare Trust contributes Rs 2.2 billion'
The DG ISPR said that the Army Chief has directed that the exercises should be conducted on a small scale instead of on a large scale.
A spokesman for the Pakistan Army further said that out of the amount received in Corona last year, Rs 6 billion was saved and returned, while Rs 3.5 billion received in the form of military equipment was deposited in the national treasury. Have given
Major General Babar Iftikhar said that our welfare organization Fuji Foundation collected Rs 150 billion in taxes last year while Army Welfare Trust has deposited Rs 2.2 billion in the national exchequer. While 70,000 students are studying in the educational institutions run under this institution.
'Pervez Musharraf should return'
He said that General (retd) Pervez Musharraf's health is very bad, may Allah give him health. In such a situation, the family of Pervez Musharraf has been contacted. Should come
Read more: Good relations with US, Russia should immediately stop attacks on Ukraine, Army Chief
In this regard, I contacted the family of Pervez Musharraf. The decision of return of Pervez Musharraf is to be made by his family and his doctors whether they can allow him to travel in such condition or not, if both things come to light. If this is the case then only arrangements can be made. The institution feels that if we can bring General Musharraf to Pakistan because his condition is like this.
'India lobbied to blacklist Pakistan'
He said that he would not comment on the FATF meeting. A complete action plan was drawn up in this regard. The whole mechanism was set up under the supervision of Army Chief. A cell was formed under DGMO. Established a liaison system between departments and ministries, developed an action plan and implemented it.
Continuing his speech, the DG ISPR said that the cell worked day and night to come up with an effective strategy on money laundering and terror financing, following which Pakistan implemented 26 points. Remittances have risen sharply, Pakistan has recovered Rs 58 billion due to effective money laundering laws, all of which have been overseen by the Army Chief, which has enabled us to implement them in the shortest possible time. Were able to
Major General Babar Iftikhar said that a lot of lobbying was done by India to blacklist Pakistan on which he also made public statements.
'No evidence of conspiracy told at NSC meeting'
He said that the armed forces and the leadership are being targeted, it should not be so, no one has the right to distort the facts, everyone has the right to their opinion but lies should not be resorted to, Sheikh Rashid said. No one in the meeting said there was no conspiracy.
Also read: Dell talks with Nawaz Sharif are fabrications and speculations: DG ISPR
He said that the participants of the National Security Committee were briefed that there was no evidence of any kind of conspiracy, nothing like that had happened. Nothing like that has happened, our agencies' 24-hour job is to crush the enemy's intentions.
No comments
Thanks