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Pakistan govt pledges flow of funds to meet army needs

The federal government on Monday pledged that it would fund the ongoing operation in North Waziristan amid the military’s insistence on fresh but firm timelines for release of all outstanding disbursements.

The assurances were given by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to Major General Mohammed Tauqeer Ahmad, director-general for the army’s budget, who called on him to discuss matters related to the military’s budget.

The meeting came on the heels of high-level contacts between army chief General Raheel Sharif and the finance minister.

According to sources, the DG budget urged the finance minister to follow the framework and ensure timely release of all promised funds. “The finance minister assured the director-general that adequate resources will be provided for the military operation and facilitation of internally displaced persons,” according to a handout issued by the Ministry of Finance. Sources in the ministry said that in June the army had sought Rs22 billion funds on urgent basis to meet the expenses of operation Zarb-e-Azb.

They added the ministry had partially met the requirement and asked the military to cover the shortfall from its own resources, which the government would pay later on. On June 15, army launched the long-awaited military campaign to destroy militant safe havens in North Waziristan.

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