Pakistan Allocates ₹45 Billion to Armed Forces for Protecting Chinese Interests and Border Security

Pakistan Allocates ₹45 Billion to Armed Forces for Protecting Chinese Interests and Border Security

The Pakistan government has approved an additional budget of ₹45 billion for its armed forces to enhance their capacity in protecting Chinese commercial interests and managing international border security, including fencing projects. The decision was made during a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. This move comes amid growing concerns about security threats impacting Chinese investments in the country.

According to the report from The Express Tribune, ₹35.4 billion will be allocated to the military, while ₹9.5 billion will go to the navy. These funds are aimed at supporting defense projects approved for the current fiscal year. This is the second major supplementary grant for the armed forces following a previous allocation of ₹60 billion for Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.

China has increasingly raised concerns about security threats in Pakistan, particularly in regions where the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects are being executed. In response, China has sought stronger anti-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan, including the possibility of a joint security company to protect Chinese workers. The CPEC project, launched in 2015 under China's Belt and Road Initiative, has faced security challenges that have delayed ongoing projects.

Under CPEC’s phase I, both countries completed 38 projects valued at $25.2 billion, with $18 billion focused on energy development. In phase II, 26 additional projects worth $26.8 billion are in progress, but security concerns have hampered their advancement. China has proposed further security measures, such as vehicle-mounted securing equipment and ballistic protective vehicles, to safeguard workers and infrastructure during the implementation of CPEC phase II.