Pakistan increases defence budget by 20%

TDT | Islamabad

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Pakistan announced yesterday a 20%t hike in defence spending in this year's federal budget, a month after a conflict with India that saw the worst violence in decades.

More than 70 people were killed in the four-day conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May before a ceasefire was announced.

Finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented a $62 billion budget to parliament on Tuesday evening, allocating 14 percent to the military -- rising from 2.12 trillion Pakistani rupees ($7.5 billion) to 2.55 trillion this coming fiscal year.

It comes after Pakistan's government announced Friday on social media that it was in discussions to acquire 40 new Chinese fighter jets and new air defence systems.