Pakistan’s current economic crisis has also affected the country’s military. There are reports of food shortages in soldiers’ messes due to the cutback in the supply of food items due to the economic crisis. It is reported that food supply to soldiers has been cut in all army messes.
It is learned that some field commanders have sent letters to the office of the Quartermaster General (QMG) at the General Headquarters, pointing out the cut in food supply to soldiers in all army messes. The report also said the QMG discussed food supply and logistics issues with the Chief of Logistics Staff (CLS) and the Director General Military Operations (DGMO).
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The report states that the QMG discussed these issues with the Chief of Logistics Staff (CLS) and the Director General Military Operations (DGMO). The report also states that the QMG, CLS and DGMO raised this issue in their meeting with Army Chief General Asim Munir.
According to the report, the army is unable to properly feed its soldiers twice a day after decades of high inflation and cutbacks in funds. Army sources said the food fund approved by former army chief General Raheel Sharif during Operation Zarb-e-Azb in 2014 has also been cut. Raheel Sharif had allocated twice the food fund than earlier.
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DG-Military Operations said the Army cannot afford further cuts in logistics and food supply. This will affect troops deployed in the border region against militants including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). According to the DGMO report, the soldiers need more food and special funds.
Pakistan is in the midst of an economic crisis due to dwindling foreign exchange reserves and soaring inflation. The government is forced to follow all the steps suggested by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to overcome the impasse. Reports have surfaced that Pakistan is set to implement austerity measures that will cut salaries of government employees and cut staff to cut costs.
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According to some reports, half of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet members will work without pay and the rest will have their salaries cut by 15%. Reports also say that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) grants and secret service funds may be capped.
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