Pakistan spent more than Rs 320 billion on internal security to control the menace of terrorism during last four years, in which Punjab topped the list with Rs 160 billion, while Gilgit-Baltistan wasd on the bottom with Rs 4 billion. The Rs 320 billion was spent by the Federal government and provinces together from 2007-08 to 2010-11, Interior Ministry sources told Business Recorder on Friday.
They said that controlling terrorism and law and order situation in the country was the top most priority of the Federal Government and it made all-out efforts to attain the desired goals to ensure that the writ of the government prevails throughout the country.
Sources said that the Federal Government through Interior Ministry is making efforts to control terrorism, smuggling and other crimes. Intelligence-sharing between police and law enforcement agencies all over Pakistan has been enhanced on scientific grounds, which has proved useful to keep a check on suspects. Advanced information in shape of Special Information Reports is being regularly issued, indicating trends and future plans of banned organisations, they added.
They said that very shortly a new package for enhancing the capacity of police and other law enforcement agencies would be announced by the Government under which training and law enforcement on modern lines and provision of modern equipment and armaments will be ensured.
Punjab spent Rs 160 billion, Sindh Rs 91 billion, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Rs 50 billion, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Rs 13 billion and Gigit Baltistan Rs 4 billion. Giving a break up of the province-wise spending, Interior Ministry sources said out of total spending of Rs 160 billion during four years Punjab spent Rs 31 billion in 2007-08, Rs 37 billion in 2008-09, Rs 47 billion in financial year 2009-10 and Rs 45 billion in 2010-11.
Expenditures allocated by Sindh on security and law and order for the four years was Rs 91 billion out of which Rs 16 billion was spent in fiscal year 2007-08, Rs 22 billion during fiscal year 2008-09, Rs 23 billion spent during fiscal year 2009-10 and Rs 30 billion were spent in fiscal year 2010-11. The expenditure of Sindh Government has increased gradually every year from Rs 16 billion to 30 billion.
KP has been the most terrorism-affected area in the country and spent over Rs 50 billion to maintain law and order situation in four years. The expenditures includes Rs 6.5 billion during fiscal year 2007-08, Rs 8.5 billion during fiscal year 2008-09, Rs 18 billion during fiscal year 2009-10 and Rs 17 during fiscal year 2010-11.
The government spent over Rs 13 billion in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) which also faced some terrorist incidents during this period. The amount spent included Rs 2 billion during fiscal year 2007-08, Rs 2.2 billion during fiscal year 2008-09, Rs 3.8 billion during fiscal year 2009-10 and Rs 4.2 billion during fiscal year 2010-11.