Article Posted on : - Jun 05, 2014

ISLAMABAD (PTI): Cash-strapped Pakistan has hiked its defence budget by 11 per cent from Rs 627 billion to Rs 700 billion with the Finance Minister saying the government cannot be oblivious to national security challenges amid a surge in Taliban insurgency.

Ishaq Dar made this announcement as he presented Rs 3.9 trillion budget in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Dar said the government would provide "all necessary resources" to the armed forces, despite efforts to rein in government spending.

He said that the country cannot be oblivious to national security challenges.

The allocation for defence has been proposed at Rs 700 billion for the financial year 2014-15.