How can Pakistan Balance its Defense Needs with Economic Growth?
Pakistan is a land where economic growth rate fluctuates with every passing decade with drastic changes that highly impacts the human security, defense, finances, politics and overall well-being as a nation. Pakistan’s GDP growth rate was 4.77% in 2022, 6.51% in 2021, and 7.79% in 2020. According to statistics given by Macro Trends, Pakistan’s GDP grew at a rate of -1.27% in 2020, which was a 3.77% decrease from 2019.
With the presence of such turbulent economic growth rate, it becomes imperative to establish an efficient system for all the aspects of human life while ensuring the safety of the state. Defense is the top priority for a country like Pakistan due to its hostile environment. Therefore, the defense takes a bigger chunk of gross budget. Pakistan ranks as the 9th strongest military around the globe. Maintaining a strong military force with quality standards present benefits with challenges.
Interrelation of Pakistan’s Economic Development with Defense Capabilities
Pakistan has a very crucial and delicate task of balancing the economic development with the maintenance of world standard military. A strong defense plan is still essential for the preservation of national sovereignty in a dynamic geopolitical environment. Excessive military spending can impede growth and development by taking funds away from important economic sectors.
Pakistan’s military force spends a great fortune on expansive military programs that takes away all the crucial resources that could be allocated to other economic sectors. Strong enforcement and accountability measures can ensure that no excessive spending is done. This strong overseeing mechanisms can assist in balancing sufficient defense needs and growing economic rate.
Private sectors and companies in Pakistan contribute more than 50% to the GDP growth of Pakistan. Both government and private sectors can come together and collaborate with Pakistan military force to enhance the efficiency and fund for the resources as well as work together to enhance the economic growth by fostering innovation and creativity as illustrated through National Aerospace Science & Technology Park (NASTP) Project.
Role of AI in Fostering Economic Growth
Artificial Intelligence has revolutionized the world by proving its potential in various domains. AI should be incorporated in national security and defense mechanisms as it is one-time investment, cost-effective, and a solution for longer run. AI can be used and is being used in the military domain especially for navigation, data processing, research, electronic warfare, and cybersecurity.
Incorporation of AI in military points towards the US military which has been busy in harnessing creative, productive, and time-efficient solutions. The Loyal Wingman Program is a classical illustration of integration of AI in military by the United States Air Force (USAF). Moreover, AI has been extensively used for combat simulation. Integration of AI in Pakistan’s military will help in reducing the costs of maintenance of military while ensuring advanced and innovative force. Other sectors like agriculture, tourism, economics etc. can also benefit from the integration of AI in their systems which will help in cost and time reduction, producing efficient results.
Economic Way Forward
Pakistan is a diverse nation with complex regions having their own security needs. For instance, the security requirements in Siachen posts will not be same for the military deployments in Gwadar. Hence, it is crucial for a regional cooperation pact between different regions in Pakistan that ensures the safety and human development projects of all regions with shared security interests.
Upgradation of LEAs along with strict enforcement mechanisms while ensuring justice is upheld can assist in fighting domestic crimes which pose a threat to the crumbling economy of Pakistan. Moreover, FDIs should be encouraged while investment in industrial units like agriculture, textile, and crops etc. which have the export potential should be initiated for economic growth. Similarly, investing in Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) can help in reducing the burden of purchasing foreign armaments. This will strengthen the domestic military industry while improving the quality of domestic armaments, reducing the economic burden of importing advanced weaponry, and creating jobs for millions.
Challenges for Maintaining a Balance between Economic Growth & Defense Needs
The biggest challenge for the Pakistan’s economic growth lies in the poor management of resources and finances. The reason behind poor management lies in the culture of corruption, dishonesty, and jobbery which has been imprinted in the governmental sectors of Pakistan. This disrupts the balance between defense needs and economic growth when the common masses accuse defense sector of taking a bigger portion of the gross budget.
To overcome the deficit, government imposes high taxation which provokes public outrage and a sense of distrust between government and population while spoiling civil-military relations. Increasing government spending to decrease taxes, accountability measures for the taxes collectors to prevent corruption, and implementing better management strategies by adopting fiscal policy, the economic growth rate can be increased while balancing the defense needs.
Investment in harnessing skills and education for the youth while seeking international cooperation in order to gain access to resources and technology in regards to international defense and economic development alliances can contribute a lot to in balancing defense needs and economic growth.
Pakistan must take a multipronged approach that emphasizes effective defense spending, encourages economic diversity, and makes use of technical breakthroughs. Pakistan can establish a long-term framework that guarantees national security and fosters wealth for its people by carefully coordinating its defense priorities with its economic goals. The stability of the country as well as its long-term growth and development depend on this delicate balancing act by the factors stated above. Pakistan can strive for a better sustainable balance between its defense needs and economic expansion by putting these concepts into practice.
The author, Saad Burney, is a student of Strategic studies at the National Defence University, Islamabad, with an impeccable record of debating over international politics.
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