Voluntary cut in defence budget will not be at the cost of defence, security: DG ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted on Wednesday that voluntary cuts in the defence budget for a year would not be at the cost of defence and security.

“We shall maintain effective response potential to all threats. Three services will manage impact of the cut through appropriate internal measures. It was imp to participate in development of tribal areas and Balochistan,” DG ISPR wrote.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan appreciated the Pakistan military’s "unprecedented voluntary initiative of stringent cuts in their defence expenditures" especially in light of the country's financial situation.

Prime Minister Khan said he was grateful for the move that came "despite multiple security challenges" that Pakistan faces.

The prime minister further added that the funds saved will now be used for the development of the newly-merged tribal areas as well as in Balochistan.

"My govt will spend this money saved on dev of merged tribal areas & Balochistan," he wrote on Twitter.