Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has revealed that the military has agreed to slash the defence budget for the next fiscal year in line with broader austerity measures being introduced by the government.

He noted that the cuts were agreed upon despite “multiple security challenges.He further stated that the money saved would be diverted to aid the development of the merged tribal areas and Balochistan.

“I appreciate Pakistan Military’s unprecedented voluntary initiative of stringent cuts in their defence expenditures for next Financial Year because of our critical financial situation, despite multiple security challenges.