Pakistan's actual spending on national security exceeds the budgetary allocation for defence by almost Rs 100 billion,impeding progress in the social sector,a leading rights body has said. The budget for 2011-12 earmarked Rs 495.2 billion for defence but additional allocations increased the actual outlay for national security to Rs 582 billion,the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said it its latest report Budgeting For Rights. The amount earmarked for defence only includes demands for grants for the Defence Division and Defence Services. The true extent of defence expenditure requires a number of adjustments, the report said. Moreover,expenditure on the nuclear programme and intelligence agencies is hard to pinpoint,HRCP said. Reportedly,an allocation of Rs 150 billion shown in the budget as a contingent liability is to be used for the armed services development programme, it added. In marked contrast,the entire social sector allocation by the federal and four provincial governments is only Rs 440.3 billion. Meanwhile,the Pakistani police Wednesday claimed to have foiled a terror plot with the arrest of six alleged militants,including a suicide bomber,during an operation in the federal capital. The police launched an operation near Zia Masjid in Shehzad town area of Islamabad three days ago after receiving a tip-off,Inspector General of Police Bin Yamin Khan said. The Criminal Investigation Department subsequently arrested the six men. No details were given about the intended targets.
