LAHORE: Continuing with its policy of austerity for the last two years, the armed forces have not demanded any increase in its annual budget allocation for the current financial year.

As the country is facing difficult economic challenges and inflation, the forces have ensured the defense by remaining operationally efficient in given resources.

The armed forces have taken some extraordinary decisions to decrease the expenditure in different areas to support the economic stability of the country. The forces have minimised their utility bills, including electricity, gas and water.

The forces also have taken austerity measures to save petrol and diesel and announced to observe every Friday as dry day and only emergency related work would be carried out and all other government-related transport would be halted.

The forces also decided not to conduct big exercises and training at far off areas and would conduct small scale training in cantonments areas. The latest technology would be used to stop unnecessary travel and all conferences and other matters would be conducted online to save national exchequer.

The forces also have decided to purchase military-related equipment in local currency to save foreign exchange.

The armed forces also have saved Rs6 billion from the allotted budget during the coronavirus pandemic and have given it back to the government and also saved Rs 3 billion sanctioned last year for purchasing military equipment and deposited it with the national exchequer.

This fiscal year the defense budget is 16 per cent of the national budget. The Pakistan army and its welfare institutions have submitted Rs 935 billion in the form of direct, indirect taxes and duties during the last five years.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2022