Pakistan Clears PKR 50 Billion Defence Boost as India Warns of Future Provocations

India

oi-Ruchika Pareek

Published: Thursday, November 20, 2025, 13:20 [IST]

Pakistan’s
government
has
approved
a
PKR
50
billion
(approx.
Rs
1,576.73
crore)
supplementary
budget
for
its
armed
forces
to
reinforce
international
border
security,
upgrade
naval
infrastructure,
and
continue
safeguarding
the
China-Pakistan
Economic
Corridor
(CPEC).
The
decision
was
taken
by
the
Economic
Coordination
Committee
(ECC)
during
a
meeting
held
on
Tuesday,
according
to
PTI.

Of
the
approved
amount,
the
ECC
allocated
PKR
39
billion
to
the
military
and
nearly
PKR
11
billion
to
the
navy.
These
funds
are
meant
for
projects
outside
Pakistan’s
regular
annual
defence
budget.

This
fresh
approval
comes
in
addition
to
Pakistan’s
PKR
2,550
billion
defence
budget
for
2025-26,
announced
in
June
–
a
reminder
of
the
country’s
increasing
dependence
on
supplementary
grants
to
keep
critical
defence
and
security
operations
running.
For
comparison,
India’s
defence
budget
for
2025-26
stands
at
INR
6.81
lakh
crore,
underscoring
a
vast
capability
gap
between
the
two
neighbours.

The
ECC
meeting,
chaired
by
Finance
Minister
Muhammad
Aurangzeb,
reviewed
national
security,
defence,
food
security,
and
petroleum
sector
proposals.
The
Finance
Ministry
noted
that
the
committee
approved
a
summary
from
the
Defence
Division
seeking
the
technical
supplementary
grant
of
PKR
50
billion
for
“various
approved
Defence
Services
projects.” Last
fiscal
year,
the
ECC
had
cleared
PKR
45
billion
for
similar
initiatives.

Allocations
for
Special
Security
Divisions

The
ECC
approved
PKR
19
billion
for
the
Special
Security
Division
South,
a
19%
increase
over
last
year.
This
division
handles
protection
of
foreign
commercial
interests
in
southern
regions,
a
priority
given
the
security
risks
around
CPEC-related
projects.

Another
PKR
8
billion
was
allocated
to
the
Special
Security
Division
North,
responsible
for
securing
similar
interests
in
northern
areas
–
the
same
amount
as
last
year.

Other
Internal
Security
and
Defence
Allocations

PKR
9.9
billion
approved
for
internal
security
duty
allowance,
unchanged
from
the
previous
year.

PKR
2
billion
allocated
for
fencing
along
the
Afghanistan
and
Iran
borders
to
curb
smuggling
and
illegal
crossings.

The
Pakistan
Navy
will
receive
PKR
11
billion
for
upgrading
two
naval
bases.

The
Pakistan
Air
Force
gets
PKR
150
million
for
internal
security
duty
allowance.

In
addition,
the
Interior
Ministry
secured
an
extra
PKR
841.6
million
in
supplementary
funds
to
support
border
control
operations,
internal
security
activities,
and
law-and-order
responsibilities
handled
by
federal
civil
armed
forces.

India’s
Response:
Prepared
for
Any
Provocation

Amid
Pakistan’s
increased
defence
spending,
India
issued
a
strong
and
clear
warning.
Chief
of
Army
Staff
General
Upendra
Dwivedi,
speaking
at
the
Chanakya
Defence
Dialogue,
said
India
is
fully
prepared
to
counter
any
future
provocation
from
Pakistan.

Citing
Operation
Sindoor,
he
said:

“Operation
Sindoor
was
just
a
trailer
which
ended
in
88
hours.
We
are
prepared
for
any
circumstances
in
future.
If
Pakistan
gives
a
chance,
we
will
teach
it
how
to
behave
responsibly
with
a
neighbouring
nation…”

He
emphasised
that
modern
warfare
demands
readiness
for
multi-domain
and
prolonged
operations,
adding
that
India
will
continue
to
respond
firmly
to
state-sponsored
terrorism.
He
reiterated
that
“talks
and
terror
can’t
go
together,”
stressing
that
India
will
treat
terrorists
and
their
sponsors
alike
until
Pakistan
adopts
a
peaceful
approach.

(With
inputs
from
PTI)