Now Reading: US flags oversight gap in Pakistan’s Rs3 trillion defence budget
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US flags oversight gap in Pakistan’s Rs3 trillion defence budget
US flags oversight gap in Pakistan’s Rs3 trillion defence budget
The US State Department has said Pakistan's military and intelligence budgets are not subject to adequate parliamentary or civilian oversight, according to its Fiscal Transparency Report. Washington also criticised Islamabad for delayed…
The Story in Brief
The US State Department has said Pakistan's military and intelligence budgets are not subject to adequate parliamentary or civilian oversight, according to its Fiscal Transparency Report. Washington also criticised Islamabad for delayed publication of its executive budget proposal and limited disclosure of government debt, including that of state-owned enterprises.
Pakistan's defence allocation for 2026-27 has risen to Rs3 trillion, a 17.65 per cent increase from the previous year. The published figure does not include military pensions, which account for another Rs822 billion, or spending on nuclear weapons and major arms imports. The report acknowledged that Pakistan makes its enacted budget and financial statements widely available online.
The Indian Opinion
The US has again pointed to Pakistan's lack of civilian control over military spending. But Washington has for years supplied aid to the same army it now asks to be scrutinised. Pakistan’s parliament debates telecom taxes, not the nuclear programme. A single figure will settle the question in 2026-27: will the executive budget proposal be published on time, as the US demands?
Source: timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
