Senator Faisal Vawda Proposes Threefold Increase in Defence Budget to Strengthen National Security
During Thursday’s Senate session, **Senator Faisal Vawda** strongly recommended a **two to threefold increase** in the country’s defense budget to bolster national security and defense capabilities. He emphasized that, to ensure the strength of the nation’s defense, **sacrifices must be made**, including cutting back on developmental projects and focusing resources on defense.
Vawda asserted,
> “We must cut back on our own needs to boost the defense budget. Now is the time to focus on defense rather than development projects.”
He went on to highlight the urgency of **doubling the salaries** of Pakistan’s armed forces, stressing that such steps are necessary to counter India effectively. He further emphasized that any progress in the country should be secondary to achieving **victory in any potential conflict** with India.
> “We should think of development only after logically concluding any war with India,” he added.
Regarding Pakistan’s military readiness, Vawda declared,
> “We are in safe hands, and the nation is united. Now, the challenge is to figure out how we will increase the defense budget two or three times.”
He also outlined recent details of **Pakistan’s response to Indian aggression**, revealing that Pakistan’s armed forces had **killed 285 Indian personnel** in a recent encounter. Vawda lauded the professionalism of the Pakistani military, underlining that **Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir** had given clear instructions that no civilian should be harmed during the operations.
> “India mistakenly thought of Pakistan as weak, but our forces responded with bravery, reminding the enemy of their place. We have clearly demonstrated our strength to India.”
### Opposition’s Role in National Security
Vawda also touched upon the role of the opposition, stating that the **government must take the opposition into confidence** for any decision on defense policy. He urged the ruling government to **engage in serious discussions** with the opposition to resolve differences for the sake of national unity.
> “The government must open its heart and initiate talks with the opposition to settle differences.”
Acknowledging India’s military strength, Vawda admitted that India’s army is **larger in size**, but assured that Pakistan has successfully defended itself so far. He added that both **Pakistan’s military and citizens** are fully prepared at every level.
### RSS and BJP Blamed for Attacks
During the session, **Senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar** delivered an emotional speech condemning the recent **child casualties** in **Khuzdar**, calling it a heart-wrenching incident. He placed the blame for these attacks on the **RSS and BJP’s extremist ideologies**, claiming that their radical views have instigated violence against Pakistan.
> “The tragic killing of innocent children is a heartbreaking incident, and we must raise our voices against this. The RSS and BJP’s extremist ideologies are responsible for the attacks on Pakistan,” Kakar stated.
In a tense moment, Kakar expressed his frustration after the **Deputy Chairman of the Senate** ordered his speech to end.
> “If we cannot speak here, should I start making TikTok videos or YouTube content?” he said angrily, further intensifying the debate.
Meanwhile, the Senate unanimously **approved a motion** presented by **Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani** to suspend the Question Hour in order to allow a discussion on the **Khuzdar tragedy**, highlighting the importance of addressing urgent national issues.
### Conclusion
This session in the Senate reflected the growing concern over **national security**, especially in light of the ongoing tensions with India. The debate also shed light on the importance of **inter-party cooperation** to address these critical issues and ensure the country’s defense and security remain robust. The pressure to allocate more resources to defense comes amidst rising regional tensions and public calls for greater military preparedness.
