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Defense Budget not to be slashed: Durrani

Federal Minister for Information and broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani has said that the defense budget would not be slashed in the next budget 2006-0   Related News     Budget to leave positive impact, not negative on common man: PM Aziz Budget for ameliorating plight of common man: PM Shaukat   Related Articles     Not Too Much to Celebrate By Raja Khalique   More on this   View All Implementation of budget rules- 2003 demanded All out efforts being made to curb price hike in Budget: Sherpao Govt to reduce import tariff in next budget Govt to subsidize commodities worth Rs 200 bn Budget to leave positive impact, not negative on common man: PM Aziz CPB to be setup in next fiscal Budget: Zobaida PM, President for preparing special relief package for masses in budget 2006-07   Related News Poll   Do you think federal Budget 2005-6 is 'anti poor'?

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani has said that the defense budget would not be slashed in the next budget 2006-07 for maintaining minimum deterrence and to strengthen the security of Pakistan in line with the geographical situation in the region.

"Maintaining defense budget of the country is essential in view of the volatile Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan, he stated this while talking to Online.

He said Kashmir issue has been the bone of contention between Pakistan and India for last five decades and it was inevitable for Pakistan to maintain a defense budget to survive in such conditions.

The minister said all the nations were meant to improve and strengthen their defense to survive in the world in the most respectable way and defense budget was essential for Pakistan especially in the hostile atmosphere in which we were living and had neighbouring countries like India.

Government is working on a compiling a detailed composite strategy to do away with price hike, rampant unemployment and we are primarily focusing on providing relief to common man, and the government has settled its priorities in this regard, he said adding the next budget will be pro-development budget that will bring positive change in the life of common man.

"Our priority will remain on the development projects that will be launched in the country to bring prosperity in the life of the common man," minister added.

He said the government had been working to prepare a comprehensive programme to eradicate poverty, unemployment and price hike and measures and same strategy would be followed in the next budget 2006-07.

Durani said; we will concentrate on the quake-hit areas in the next budget 2006-07 and continue our work to rehabilitate and reconstruct the affected areas of the country.

"The people of the quake-hit areas need our attention and the masses should come forward in this regard to join hands with the government so that the affected people could return to normal life," minister informed.

Minister said that government had been successful in relief work in the quake-hit areas and now the obligation lays with the masses and the government to continue with relief activities in the next financial year.

"Our priority is to bring the prosperity in the country that would help enhance the living standard of the masses," minister said adding that people can play vital role in this regard.

End.