Government Spends Over 34 Crore on Food for Security Personnel During Protests in Last Five Years

Islamabad:Protests, long marches, and sit-ins have been common occurrences during every government tenure, and each time, heavy security is deployed at key locations to ensure the safety of citizens and government property. To cater to the needs of security personnel stationed at these protest sites, the government provides meals during their duty hours.

A document submitted by the Ministry of Interior to the National Assembly has revealed that the cost of food for security personnel deployed during protests and sit-ins in Islamabad over the past five years has amounted to a staggering total of **34 crore 18 lakh 61 thousand rupees**.

According to the document, the breakdown of the expenses is as follows:
– In **2019-2020**, the cost of food for security personnel amounted to **5 crore 22 lakh rupees**.
– In **2020-2021**, it was **2 crore 82 lakh rupees**.
– In **2021-2022**, the expense rose to **3 crore 64 lakh rupees**.
– In **2022-2023**, the highest expenditure was recorded at **18 crore 50 lakh rupees**.
– In the current fiscal year, **2023-2024**, **4 crore rupees** have been spent on meals for security personnel.

Additionally, the Ministry of Interior has also provided details about the costs incurred for transporting personnel from barracks to checkpoints and duty locations during protests. The total expenditure for these transfers over the last five years has reached **95 crore rupees**.

The year-by-year breakdown of these costs is:
– In **2019-2020**, **10 crore 55 lakh rupees** were spent on transportation.
– In **2020-2021**, **6 crore 78 lakh rupees** were spent.
– In **2021-2022**, **17 crore 82 lakh rupees** were spent.
– In **2022-2023**, the highest transportation expenditure was **53 crore 90 lakh rupees**.
– In **2023-2024**, **6 crore rupees** have been spent on transfers.

These expenditures highlight the significant resources allocated by the government to manage and secure public protests, ensuring the welfare of security personnel while maintaining law and order during such events.