Pak hikes defence budget by 11 per cent

June 04, 2014 19:36

Cash-strapped Pakistan has hiked its defence budget by 11 per cent from Rs 627 billion to Rs 700 billion with the finance minister saying the government cannot be oblivious to national security challenges amid a surge in Taliban insurgency.

Ishaq Dar made this announcement as he presented Rs 3.9 trillion budget in the National Assembly yesterday.

Dar said the government would provide "all necessary resources" to the armed forces, despite efforts to rein in government spending. The hike in defence spending came amid reports that the army may launch a full-scale operation against Taliban insurgents hiding in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan as peace talks failed to make any headway.

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