Pakistan army faces no salary no food situation as economic crises hits hard
Pakistan’s external debt and liabilities have almost reached to $130 billion — 95.39 per cent of its GDP. Now, the economic woes have hit Pakistan’s military establishment hard, including the proposed salary cut and freeze on military procurement.
Amid an ongoing economic crisis, Pakistan’s external debt and liabilities have almost reached $130 billion — 95.39 per cent of its GDP.
As per the latest data, inflation is at its highest in 48 years, currently sitting at 27.6 per cent. While in January 2023, food inflation reached 42.9 per cent compared to 12.8 per cent last year, bringing the country into a severe economic crisis.
With high inflation, Pakistan’s central bank has raised the policy interest rate and the price of petroleum in Pakistan was notified by the country’s finance minister on Tuesday. However, that is not the culmination of its economic crisis as the economic woes are now impacting its armed forces.
While Pakistan continues to develop a dependency on aid and loans, including twenty programmes funded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the ongoing negotiations for the bail-out package may hit a roadblock
Speaking at the UNHRC, India's representative Seema Pujani said, "Pakistan's obsession with India while its population battle for their lives, livelihood and freedom is an indication of the state's misplaced priorities. I would advise its leadership and officials to focus their energies on working for the benefit of their own population instead of baseless propaganda.
Now, the economic woes have hit its army too. Based on the reports that senior commanders—on the ground– have notified the Quarter Master General (QMG) Office at the General Headquarters on the severe cuts in food supply to soldiers.
Pakistan’s total defence budget in 2022–23 stands at $7.5 billion.
As per the data, the total reserves are only $ 8.7billion in Jan 2023 reducing further till Feb end. With a lower economic growth rate of a mere 2 per cent, the government is grappling to fulfil its military obligations—which is now spilling over to the logistics and essentials supply issues.
