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June 11, 2008
In a First,
Pakistan's Parliament to Debate Defence Budget
By Muhammad
Najeeb
Islamabad
For the first time, Pakistan's parliament will debate the defence
budget. In the past, this was passed without its details being
revealed.
"For the first time, the defence budget will be presented in
parliament for debate," Finance Minister Naveed Qamar said in his
budget speech Wednesday in the National Assembly or the lower house
of parliament.
He, however, in his budget speech did not give details of defence
expenditure during fiscal 2008-09 beginning July 1.
A source on the treasury benches said the defence budget has been
pegged at Rs.296 billion, up 7.6 percent from last year's Rs. 275
billion.
The government was serious in freezing the defence budget "but we
will have to take into consideration the inflation and dollar
parity," the source told IANS.
Finance Minister Qamar said the defence budget would be presented to
MPs in itemized form and contain full details of expenditure.
"Though this is not included in the pink book (the budget document),
it will be provided to the members," the minister said.
The minister said allocations for the army, the air force and the
navy would be separately listed.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani Monday said: "The government has
decided to freeze the allocation for defence in the next budget as a
measure of Pakistan's tangible display to seek peace with its
neighbours."
Gillani said that, in effect, the defence budget would be "reduced
in the context of inflation and rupee-dollar parity."
Without naming nuclear rival India, he said he expected a
"reciprocal gesture from our neighbour for the sake of peace and
prosperity of the region".
"The defence ministry and the chief of army staff have fully
endorsed the revised format of the defence services budget
estimates," the prime minister added.
The federal budget for 2008-09 has been pegged at Rs.2,384 billion
that includes Rs.550 billion for the public sector development
programme, Rs.523 billion interest and loan payback and Rs.147
billion for administrative expenditure.
The budget envisages a target of Rs.582 billion for deficit
financing, while the Federal Bureau of Revenue has been assigned a
target of Rs.1,250 billion for tax recovery.
IANS
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June 11, 2008
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