How Much Pakistan Spends on Defence?
- Thread starter Wuraid Khan
- Start date
That article only shows half the picture. It's true that in terms of the federal budget, the Pakistani army draws less than the perceived amount of funding. However, the chart provided in the article (dollars spent per soldier) is only looking at federal spending. The actual money spent per soldier/airman/seaman in the Pak Military is much higher than that number, due to the fact that the military in Pakistan has been forced to rely on its own internal economy, developed precisely to offset the burden on the federal budget.
The profits of the military's commercial and real-estate enterprises go towards supporting its soldiers (their retirement, housing and medical expenses etc.) This is how the military manages to draw a high caliber of educated recruits for its military, which is an all-volunteer force. If it was left to the federal budget, there is no way that Pakistan could afford the military it has. For example, just in terms of the healthcare available to active and retired soldiers, Pakistan is ahead of even the United States. There are many reports of US veterans unable to secure proper medical care following discharge. Whereas in Pakistan, the entire immediate family of soldiers is given excellent medical care for life. Military hospitals in Pakistan are some of the best in the country, on par with private hospitals.
The Pakistani army is criticized by certain political elements in Pakistan for this internal economy it has created, but what they don't understand is that this is a strategic necessity. In order for Pakistan to recruit and maintain a high caliber of educated individuals for its military, it needs to be able to offer them really good services to offset their low salary. This is what allows Pakistan to maintain a military which is actually above the standard that its actual economy allows.
Now, having said all of that, this is not a long term solution to the problem Pakistan faces. You can recruit and maintain a good caliber of individuals, but ultimately, we need to spend hard cash from the federal budget on R&D and big ticket purchases. This means that fixing the Pakistani economy, as the army has clearly stated, is a matter of national security of the highest order.
The profits of the military's commercial and real-estate enterprises go towards supporting its soldiers (their retirement, housing and medical expenses etc.) This is how the military manages to draw a high caliber of educated recruits for its military, which is an all-volunteer force. If it was left to the federal budget, there is no way that Pakistan could afford the military it has. For example, just in terms of the healthcare available to active and retired soldiers, Pakistan is ahead of even the United States. There are many reports of US veterans unable to secure proper medical care following discharge. Whereas in Pakistan, the entire immediate family of soldiers is given excellent medical care for life. Military hospitals in Pakistan are some of the best in the country, on par with private hospitals.
The Pakistani army is criticized by certain political elements in Pakistan for this internal economy it has created, but what they don't understand is that this is a strategic necessity. In order for Pakistan to recruit and maintain a high caliber of educated individuals for its military, it needs to be able to offer them really good services to offset their low salary. This is what allows Pakistan to maintain a military which is actually above the standard that its actual economy allows.
Now, having said all of that, this is not a long term solution to the problem Pakistan faces. You can recruit and maintain a good caliber of individuals, but ultimately, we need to spend hard cash from the federal budget on R&D and big ticket purchases. This means that fixing the Pakistani economy, as the army has clearly stated, is a matter of national security of the highest order.
Agreed to some of your points, Dear.