At a time when abnormal Pakistani households are going through hardships by way of meals inflation, excessive electrical energy payments, and IMF-imposed fiscal austerity measures, the Pakistani authorities and the army proceed to take a position billions of {dollars} in new submarines. This reveals the nation’s misplaced priorities with a prestige-focused defence coverage.
Pakistan stays closely reliant on IMF loans, having entered its twenty fifth bailout programme since 1958. The most recent $7 billion bundle contains strict situations. These vary from parliamentary approval of a fiscally restrained finances, reforms within the power sector, and lowered subsidies.
Regardless of these constraints, the Pakistani authorities, in June this yr, after clashes with India, accredited a 20% hike within the defence finances, now at PKR 2.55 trillion, or 1.97% of GDP, citing regional threats and army modernisation.
This comes at a time when households face struggles, together with excessive meals inflation and energy tariffs.
As per the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics: “Price of meals in Pakistan elevated 0.89 per cent in July of 2025 over the identical month within the earlier yr. Meals inflation in Pakistan averaged 10.09 per cent from 2011 till 2025, reaching an all-time excessive of 48.65 per cent in Might of 2023 and a file low of -5.12 per cent in March of 2025.”
It’s due to this that even households incomes greater than the minimal wage face issue assembly on a regular basis bills.
As an alternative of accelerating the army finances, that very same quantity might have been used for focused subsidy programmes to curb meals inflation, enhance agriculture, or instantly assist households going through rising grocery and electrical energy payments. Economists anticipated cuts to social improvement to fund the rise in defence spending. They instructed that these funds might have supported schooling, well being care, or meals safety if priorities have been adjusted.
Pakistan Navy’s Submarine Acquisition
Regardless of this, amidst fiscal stress, Pakistan is pursuing a $5 billion settlement with China to accumulate eight Sort 039A (Hangor-class) submarines. The third vessel was launched on August 15, 2025, at a ceremony held at a shipyard in Wuhan. The Hangors have been touted as having superior sensors, stealth, and weapon programs designed to counter regional rivals and improve maritime deterrence.
Pakistan signed the $4–5 billion cope with China Shipbuilding & Offshore Worldwide Firm (CSOC) in 2015 to accumulate eight Hangor-class submarines. As a part of the settlement, 4 submarines are being inbuilt China, and the opposite 4 are being assembled in Pakistan at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works below a know-how switch programme, with deliveries deliberate between 2022 and 2028.
The Hangor-class submarines could barely improve Pakistan’s naval posture, however they’re undoubted markers of a state that prioritises army optics over the urgent survival wants of its residents. Meals safety doesn’t have the identical optics as submarines do for nationwide safety.