Amid coronavirus crisis Pakistan armed forces ask for 20% pay hike

The coronavirus caused a lockdown by Pakistani forces in Pakistan even after Prime Minister Imran Khan's refusal. Imran had expressed fears that if the lockdown was carried out, less civilians would die due to coronavirus but more due to starvation.

Now, due to the lockdown, Pakistan is in a state of complete mess. In addition, the international financial institutions have offered help.

On one hand, Pakistan is not giving up the business of terrorist attacks on India, firing on the LOC. The economy is in shambles but the Pakistani military has asked for a 20% pay rise.

Imran Khan has declared that he has no money to pay for the lockdown package. However, the Pakistan Army wants a 20 per cent pay hike, not a small one. So far, 35,000 people have been infected in Pakistan.

The Pakistani military has demanded a 20 per cent increase in their salaries for 2020-21. According to his defense ministry, doing so could cost the exchequer Rs 6,367 crore.

Army salaries are low, and inflation has risen sharply. In 2019-20, the salaries of brigadier rank officers were increased by 5 per cent. So the general officers did not get any salary increase.

The Pakistani military's demand comes at a time when Imran Khan has been shown the way out of many decision-making processes. Whether it is a lockdown or the deployment of troops on the streets, Imran has not been taken into confidence.

Imran Khan is likely to be blamed for the Kashmir issue, the economy and the failure to contain the coronavirus.This has put Imran Khan in trouble.

To date, Pakistan has squandered billions of rupees received from the United States, China and the World Bank on terrorist activities against India. Today Pakistan does not have hospitals to save civilians who are infected with COVID-19.

Pakistan's foreign minister has said that the global recession will have a serious impact on Pakistan as well. Pakistan's exports have fallen by 40 per cent.

The financial crisis has led to a waiver in lockdown in Pakistan. At least 761 people have been killed in Pakistan so far.