Pakistan ISI gets Rs 600 mn to accomplish 'special assignment'

ISLAMABAD: The Inter-Services Intelligence agency was provided Rs 600 million to accomplish a "special assignment" on the directive of the Pakistani Prime Minister, according to budget documents tabled in parliament.

The sum was released to the Director General of the ISI under the head of "Supplementary Demands for Grants and Appropriations 2012-13".

Budget documents tabled in parliament yesterday showed that the Finance Division released Rs 600 million to the ISI chief for the special assignment, The News daily reported today.

Pakistan's defence budget is rarely discussed in parliament and the ISI's budget is not documented in budget documents.

The report said the acknowledgement of the payment of Rs 600 million was a "rare example".

No details were given about the special assignment carried out by the spy agency.

The Cabinet Division spent Rs 300 million on the operational requirements of the Intelligence Bureau while the internal spy agency's expenses on its employees touched Rs 900 million.

The Defence Production Division spent Rs 103.42 million on the cost and other annual subscriptions of two VVIP Gulf Steam aircraft.

The paramilitary Pakistan Rangers spent Rs 82.5 million on purchasing a helicopter for use in Punjab province and Rs 1.387 billion for acquiring 37 ground surveillance radars for use in Karachi.