Planning Minister Says Defence Budget Will Increase
LAHORE: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Saturday that the government will fast-track the construction of key hydropower projects, including the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams, to ensure Pakistan’s water security and counter any potential advantage by India.
Speaking to a delegation of engineers led by Institution of Engineers Pakistan (IEP) Secretary General Engr Ameer Zameer, Iqbal emphasised the urgency of these hydro projects in light of India’s water-related hostilities.
He noted that India has recently announced plans to significantly increase its water withdrawals from a major river that flows into Pakistan — a move it claims is in retaliation for last month’s deadly attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) Pahalgam, which it blames on Pakistan, Reuters reported.
During discussions about green initiatives, Iqbal highlighted that Pakistani engineers are currently undergoing training in China.
“The prime minister has sent over a thousand agricultural engineers to China for training, and they will complete their courses this year, bringing about a new agricultural Green Revolution,” he said. “We’re working to develop our own seed varieties and modernise the dairy and livestock sectors.”
He also noted that the government has allocated funds for an internship program for engineers within the budget. “Thousands of young engineers will gain on-the-job training, opening doors to better job prospects,” he added.
Iqbal, however, pointed out that Pakistan has only Rs1 trillion allocated for development spending, while ministers had initially sought Rs3 trillion to finish ongoing projects. “Because of this shortfall, we are shelving low-priority projects and focusing on completing high-priority ones as swiftly as possible,” he said.
He further stated that in response to the recent surge in tensions with India and New Delhi’s suspension of a key river water-sharing treaty with Islamabad, Pakistan will increase its defence budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26.
The federal budget was initially scheduled for presentation on June 2, but Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Shahzad announced on Friday that it will now be presented on June 10.
Iqbal clarified that the delay in the budget presentation was not due to any pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
