ISLAMABAD (Online) - The government has decided to increase the defence budget by 15.5 percent for the upcoming financial year 2009-10 as Rs 342 billion have been earmarked for the military needs. Finance ministry sources told Online the salaries and pensions of armed forces personnel was likely to be increased by 20 percent. As per budget documents for the year 2008-9, defence budget was allocated to the tune of Rs 296 billion against the previous allocation of Rs 275 billion in the year 2007-08. With the raise of 15.5 percent, the overall defence expenses will be increased amounting to Rs 46 billion in the budget volume. In the budget for the next fiscal year, overall operational expenses would be enhanced due to operation Rah-e-Raast. Decision to increase or decrease in physical assets in the budget will be taken in consultation with the army. However, shifting of General Head Quarters (GHQ) will remain deferred during the current financial year, as last year the decision was taken voluntarily by the army chief due to grim economic situation of the country. The budgetary allocations for civil work and defence management are also likely to be increased. When contacted, sources of armed forces said operational expenses of the army had increased manifold due to ongoing war against terrorism and militancy. We are well aware of economic woes of the government but presently survival of Pakistan is dearer than our life and success of the ongoing operation is a must. Therefore, operational expenses would have to be increased in this perspective, sources added.