An 18 per cent increase in the defence budget has been approved for the next fiscal year. – (File Photo)

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly’s Standing Committee for defence on Thursday approved a defence budget of more than Rs.500 billion for 2011-2012.

The Standing Committee meeting was held at the Parliament House and was chaired by Azra Fazal. Secretary defence and concerned officials participated in the meeting and informed the committee about the defence budget needs.

Upon the pressure of the defence ministry, the media was kept out of the meeting. Later, the committee’s chairperson informed the media that an 18 per cent increase in the defence budget has been approved for the next fiscal year. She stated that the increase was taken into account due to the price hikes in the country.

She stated that the Army and other security agencies were spending a large amount of resources on the war against terrorism and security measures.

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