The federal government has allocated Rs2.122 trillion for defense in the budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, marking a significant increase in defense spending.

This represents an approximately 14.99% increase from last year’s allocation.

Last year, the government allocated Rs1.804 trillion for defense for 2023-24, which was about 13% higher than the revised allocation for the previous year.

The defense budget last year constituted nearly 1.7% of the GDP and 12.5% of the total planned government expenditure for the upcoming year.

In 2022-23, Rs1.57 trillion was allocated for defense affairs and services, later revised to Rs1.59 trillion.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the Federal Budget 2024-25, totaling Rs18.887 trillion, as the National Assembly session commenced after a delay of about an hour amidst loud opposition protests.

Members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) encircled the NA speaker’s dais and raised slogans against the government’s budget policy. Budget copies were distributed to each member at their designated seats.

The federal cabinet approved the budget for the financial year 2024-25. During the cabinet meeting, packages for farmers, youth, and industries were also approved.

Sources indicated that the Prime Minister also approved a 25% increase in salaries and pensions for government employees in grades 1 to 16, and a 20% increase for those in grades 17 to 22.