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Pakistan
Budget
Faced with the problem of defense against a much larger enemy
from a relatively weak resource base, the military must lay claim
to a disproportionate share of the nation's resources even to
maintain a minimally effective defensive capability. The military
was fortunate in that successive governments--with the exception
of the early Bhutto years--believed it necessary to support the
armed services as much as possible. This attitude also persisted
among the public at large, who accepted the danger from India
as real and present.
From 1958 until 1973, the published defense budget accounted
for between 50 and 60 percent of total government expenditures.
After that time, the proportions were much lower, falling to 40
and even 30 percent levels and ranging between 5 and 7 percent
of GNP. At the same time, however, because of an expanding economy,
actual expenditures--even allowing for inflation--showed considerable
increases. The defense budget for fiscal year (FY-- see Glossary)
1993 was set at Rs94 billion (for value of the rupee--see Glossary),
or US$3.3 billion, which represented 27 percent of government
spending and almost 9 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP--see
Glossary). The published budget understated expenditures by excluding
procurement and defense-related research and development as well
as funds spent on such activities as intelligence and the nuclear
program. (Wirsing 94; Rizvi 124,205,244; Janes; SIPRI)
Data as of April 1994
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