ISLAMABAD — Budget came,and one thing stood out right away. Defence is getting an 18% raise this year. In a 18.77 trillion rupee budget, the military’s slice of the pie got noticeably bigger.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb didn’t spend too long on it during the speech. But the message was clear. With things heating up near Iran, Afghanistan still shaky, and border ops never really stopping, the government decided security can’t wait.
So where’s this money actually going
Most of it, as always, will go to salaries and pensions. Prices are up, inflation is around 8.2%, so troops and retired officers needed a bump. The rest is split between a few things:
- Day-to-day ops – KPK and Balochistan ops aren’t stopping. Plus border fencing and surveillance along Iran/Afghanistan.
- New gear – Talk is there’ll be money for drones, air defence upgrades, and some naval stuff. Old equipment has been held together with tape and prayers for too long.
- Nuclear side – That budget is never public, but it’s protected. No surprises there.
PM Shehbaz Sharif also mentioned Pakistan’s role in US-Iran talks. When you’re playing mediator, you need to look strong at home too. Defence spending helps with that image.
The catch
Nothing’s free. To keep the IMF happy, the government raised taxes on fuel, electricity, and salaried people. Middle class is going to feel the pinch. Farmers and real estate folks? They dodged the bullet again, like always.
An analyst at Lakson Investments put it straight: “Govt is choosing fiscal discipline over growth, again.” That’s the trade-off. More for guns, less for everything else.
What people are saying
I asked a retired officer what he thought. His answer was simple: “If this money actually buys working drones and radars, fine. If it just goes to paperwork, then what’s the point?”
On the ground, it depends who you ask. In Mansehra or Bannu, people dealing with security issues daily say “spend more if it keeps us safe”. In Karachi or Lahore, people are asking why school and hospital budgets are squeezed while fuel gets costlier.
Final Thought
Look, 18% more for defence in 2026-27 is Pakistan saying “we’re worried”. And honestly, with the region on edge, maybe that’s fair. You can’t negotiate or keep peace if your borders are weak.
But here’s the real test. A bigger budget doesn’t automatically mean better security. It means better choices. If next year we see fewer attacks, quieter borders, and soldiers getting the right equipment instead of old stock, then people won’t complain.
Brick is a professional content writer specializing in informational and research-based articles. He focuses on creating accurate, well-structured, and reader-friendly content designed to inform users and support search engine visibility.
