Defence forces' needs being met despite crisis: Naveed Qamar

Senate of Pakistan

Defence forces' needs being met despite crisis: Naveed Qamar

November 29, 2012

Defence Minister Naveed Qamar has said that the government was doing all it could to meet the requirements of defence forces despite the financial crunch.“We have been giving them what we could give,” Mr Qamar said. Defence allocations have for the past couple of years been practically on the decline despite 10 per cent annual hike due to the country’s precarious financial situation. At a briefing for Senate’s Defence Committee last month, defence ministry officials described how badly the economic crunch had been pinching the armed forces. Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy have separately conveyed their economic woes to Senate Defence Committee. While responding to complaints of resource constraints during his visit to naval headquarters earlier in the day, Mr Qamar said the government would provide all possible support to Pakistan Navy. Defence Committee chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain has also assured parliament’s cooperation to the defence forces in overcoming their financial problems.

Source: DAWN