Islamabad, 6 May (H.S.): The coalition government of Pakistan has approved an 18 per cent rise in defense expenditure to more than Rs 2.5 trillion in the upcoming budget owing to tensions with India, as reported by the media on Tuesday.

The government plans to reveal the 2025-26 budget during the first week of next month, just before the new fiscal year begins on July 1.

India and Pakistan have experienced increased tensions following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in 26 fatalities.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar