https://sputniknews.in/20230706/economic-instability-becomes-curse-for-pakistan-armed-forces-2858665.html
Economic Instability Becomes Curse for Pakistan Armed Forces
Economic Instability Becomes Curse for Pakistan Armed Forces
Sputnik India
Pakistan has canceled all military drills and war exercises until December because of the ongoing shortage of fuel in the country, media reports suggest. 06.07.2023, Sputnik India
2023-07-06T12:30+0530
2023-07-06T12:30+0530
2023-07-06T17:50+0530
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A report by Eurasian Times suggested that Pakistan's army is canceling its war games, not due to a ceasefire agreement with India or peace on the borders, but rather because it lacks the necessary fuel.What is Reserve Fuel?It must be noted that in military terms, reserve fuel is different from war fuel. The war fuel reserves are meant for weapons and fuel needed to conduct a war for a certain period of time, whereas reserve fuel is usually meant for training and military exercises.Pakistan is currently facing a fuel shortage amid unprecedented high inflation as the cost of petrol and diesel is 262 rupees per liter, while kerosene oil is 164 rupees. In comparison, back in July of 2021, the cost of petrol was around 115 rupees.Just last week, Pakistan received its second shipment of discounted Russian crude oil at the port of Karachi as part of a deal agreed between Islamabad and Moscow. Under this deal, Russia agreed to supply 100,000 tons of crude to Pakistan, and Islamabad would be using Chinese yuan to pay for it.As the country faces the brunt of this economic crisis, its strongest institution, the army, is also affected.Why Reserve Fuel is Essential for Military Drills?It costs a lot of money and resources to run a fleet of military trucks, army tanks, and other armored vehicles. Just imagine: one T-80 tank consumes some two liters per kilometer and Pakistani armed forces have a total of 2,467 MBTs (Main Battle Tanks); hence, the army requires huge amounts of fuel and lubricants annually.It is probable that the army has decided to postpone its military training and army games in order to facilitate the government in handling the economic turmoil.Nevertheless, if Pakistan's army is trying to control spending of its reserve fuel, this would not be the first time that it has opted for such cost-cutting methods in recent years.Just last year the army had announced to observe a 'dry day' every Friday, which meant that no military vehicles would run on this day unless there is an emergency, otherwise all government vehicles were to remain parked every Friday in an effort to curb fuel spending.Furthermore, the army wanted to cut its electricity and gas bills too, as part of the austerity measures, so as not to burden the weakening economy. The country's defense budget for 2022-2023 has also been reduced to 16% of the national budget compared to the 2021-22 budget of 20%.The armed forces had also refused to demand additional funds from the government and decided to scale down training drills and exercises.Some other major decisions taken by the army included:The army's austerity measures come at a time when Pakistan's inflation has been a concern for the government and international observers, as inflation has consistently been over 30% in the last few months.Pakistan Army Facing Food ShortagesAnother report recently published by Business Today suggested that Pakistan's army has been unable to feed its soldiers properly amid the economic crisis.According to the report, some field commanders had written letters to the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, pointing to cuts in the food supplied to soldiers in all army messes. It said that the army was not able to feed soldiers 'two times properly' amid the high inflation and cuts in special funds. "We have already cut the soldiers' food fund, which was doubled and approved by General Raheel Sharif during Operation Zarb-e-Azb in 2014," the publication had written, quoting an inside source.Moreover, about half of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's cabinet members were to allegedly work without any salary, while the rest were to take a 15% cut.While last Thursday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced it would loan $3 billion to Pakistan in order to help it face the economic crises without defaulting, many economists feel that the country's troubles are far from over.There are, however, a number of potential drawbacks of accepting the IMF loan as it comes with strict conditions, such as extensive policy reforms and austerity measures, which might further cause inflation in the country and negatively impact its institutions, including the army.
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Economic Instability Becomes Curse for Pakistan Armed Forces
12:30 06.07.2023 (Updated: 17:50 06.07.2023) Pakistan has canceled all military drills and war exercises until December because of the ongoing shortage of fuel in the country, media reports suggest.
A report by Eurasian Times suggested that Pakistan's army is canceling its war games, not due to a ceasefire agreement with India or peace on the borders, but rather because it lacks the necessary fuel.
The report stated that a letter was issued to all the army's field formations and headquarters asking to suspend war games and military training until December, due to the lack of reserve fuel and lubricants.
It must be noted that in military terms, reserve fuel is different from war fuel. The war fuel reserves are meant for weapons and fuel needed to conduct a war for a certain period of time, whereas reserve fuel is usually meant for training and military exercises.
Pakistan is currently
facing a fuel shortage amid unprecedented high inflation as the cost of petrol and diesel is 262 rupees per liter, while kerosene oil is 164 rupees. In comparison, back in July of 2021, the cost of petrol was around 115 rupees.
Just last week, Pakistan received its second shipment of discounted Russian crude oil at the port of Karachi as part of a deal agreed between Islamabad and Moscow. Under this deal, Russia agreed to supply 100,000 tons of crude to Pakistan, and Islamabad would be using Chinese yuan to pay for it.
As the country faces the brunt of this economic crisis, its strongest institution, the army, is also affected.
Why Reserve Fuel is Essential for Military Drills?
It costs a lot of money and resources to run a fleet of military trucks, army tanks, and other armored vehicles.
Just imagine: one
T-80 tank consumes some two liters per kilometer and Pakistani armed forces have a total of 2,467 MBTs (Main Battle Tanks); hence, the army requires huge amounts of fuel and lubricants annually.
It is probable that the army has decided to postpone its military training and army games in order to facilitate the government in handling the economic turmoil.
Nevertheless, if Pakistan's army is trying to control spending of its reserve fuel, this would not be the first time that it has opted for such cost-cutting methods in recent years.
Just last year the army had announced to observe a 'dry day' every Friday, which meant that no military vehicles would run on this day unless there is an emergency, otherwise all government vehicles were to remain parked every Friday in an effort to curb fuel spending.
Furthermore, the army wanted to cut its electricity and gas bills too, as part of the austerity measures, so as not to burden the weakening economy. The country's defense budget for 2022-2023 has also been reduced to 16% of the national budget compared to the 2021-22 budget of 20%.
The armed forces had also refused to demand additional funds from the government and decided to scale down training drills and exercises.
Some other major decisions taken by the army included:
employing remote working for conferences,
using local currency in the purchase of military equipment,
returning Rs 6 billion, which was allocated for Covid, to the government and
returning Rs 3.5 billion to the national exchequer from its fund that was allocated in 2021.
The army's austerity measures come at a time when Pakistan's inflation has been a concern for the government and international observers, as inflation has consistently been over 30% in the last few months.
Pakistan Army Facing Food Shortages
Another report recently published by Business Today suggested that Pakistan's army has been unable to feed its soldiers properly amid the economic crisis.
According to the report, some field commanders had written letters to the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, pointing to cuts in the
food supplied to soldiers in all army messes. It said that the army was not able to feed soldiers 'two times properly' amid the high inflation and cuts in special funds.
"We have already cut the soldiers' food fund, which was doubled and approved by General Raheel Sharif during Operation Zarb-e-Azb in 2014," the publication had written, quoting an inside source.
The report further suggested that Pakistan was preparing to implement austerity measures under which the salary of government employees will be cut, the number of foreign missions will be reduced and staff will be decreased to further ease the financial burden.
Moreover, about half of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's cabinet members were to allegedly work without any salary, while the rest were to take a 15% cut.
While last Thursday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced it would loan $3 billion to Pakistan in order to help it face the economic crises without defaulting, many economists feel that the country's troubles are far from over.
There are, however, a number of potential drawbacks of accepting the IMF loan as it comes with strict conditions, such as extensive policy reforms and austerity measures, which might further cause inflation in the country and negatively impact its institutions, including the army. 
