Pakistan Army is one of the best Army in the world. Pakistan army help in defense as well as in developing sector of UNO in different countries of world. Absolutely no debate about that one either. Yes, the army would have to learn that a uni dimensional national security strategy singularly focused on ‘defense’ cannot guarantee the longevity of the Pakistani nation-state. Yes, our future really depends on three ‘Ds’. And they are: defense, development and diplomacy. Let us now some long-held myths about Pakistan army:
Myth 1: Pakistan’s military eats up the largest chunk of our budget. It’s not true. The largest chunk goes for servicing domestic debt and the second largest chunk is eaten up by losses at public sector enterprises like the Pepco, PIA, Pakistan Steel and Pakistan Railways.
The third largest chunk is routinely allocated for the Public Sector Development Program. In 2012-13, the fourth largest chunk, an amount of Rs545 billion, was allocated for ‘defense affairs and services’.
Myth 2: The military consumes a very high percentage of government expenditures. Not true. In 2012-13, ‘Defense Affairs and Services’ consumed a 17 percent of all government expenditures. What that means is that a full 83 percent of all government expenditures are non-defense related.
Myth 3: Over time, our expenditures on the military have been on an increase. Not true. In the 90s, our defense budget used to be 3.6 percent of the GDP. Since then there has been a steady decline. In 2012-13, allocation for defense was under 2.5 percent of the GDP – a 33 percent decline over a decade.
Myth 4: We spend a very high percentage of our GDP on defense. Not true. There are at least fifty countries that spend a higher percentage of their GDP on defense. They include: India, Egypt, Sri Lanka, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, France, Eritrea, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Liberia, Brunei, Syria, Kuwait, Yemen, Angola, Singapore, Greece, Iran, Bahrain, Djibouti, Morocco, Chile, Lebanon, Russia, Colombia, Zimbabwe, Turkey, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, Namibia, Guinea, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Algeria, Serbia and Montenegro, Armenia, Botswana, Ukraine, Uganda, Ecuador, Bulgaria, Lesotho and Sudan.
Myth 5: The Pakistan Army has received billions of dollars in the form of coalition support funds. Not true. Of the $10 billion that the US claims to have reimbursed to the government of Pakistan, the army has received a total of $1.8 billion (presumably the rest has gone into filling the deficit). Remember; the $1.8 billion is not additional funds for the army but mere reimbursements for expenses already incurred under the ‘war on terror’.
Myth 6: Commercial undertakings by the military are a burden on our economy. Not true. To begin with, commercial undertakings have literally nothing to do with active duty personnel – and everything to do with the welfare of retired soldiers. Defense Housing Societies are self-financing and popular both among investors and residents (because of superior management and security of title). Fauji Fertilizer, a public limited company, for instance, contributed a wholesome Rs91 billion to the tax kitty.
And now some facts:
Fact 1: Current losses at our public sector enterprises can pay for 100 percent of our defense budget. PIA, Steal Mills, Railways and Power management companies are losing but military use its own resources.
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| Getting Batch on Best at UN |
Fact 3: Pakistan’s armed forces undertook successful operations like Operation Rah-e-Haq (Swat), Operation Sherdil (Bajaur), Operation Zalzala (Spinkai) and Operation Rah-e-Nijat (SWA) without any significant additional financial allocation.
Fact 4: Of all the armies in the world, Pak Army is the largest contributor of troops to the UN peacekeeping missions. Of all the armies in the world, Pak Army has received the highest number of UN medals.
Fact 5: Pakistan army have skills to deal with tough conditions with less equipments. We prove that in Syachen Base and Kargill Sector.
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