The Global Firepower Index 2021 released its ranking of the world army and ranked Pakistan Army the 10th most powerful army out of total 133 countries, as per a report by The Express Tribune. India was placed at 4th spot in the list, just behind the US, Russia, and China.

The list released by Global Firepower and estimated the ranking based on 50 factors. Interestingly, the country surpassed Isreal, Canada, Iran, and Indonesia. Pakistan, also, improved its points this year and remained the only country to do among the top 15.

For 2020-21 the country allocated $USD 8 billion for the defense budget, an increase of 11.89 percent from the last year. The hike in the defense budget is significant, given the precarious economic situation of the country amid the global economic slowdown.

The budget increase was justified by citing the challenges it faced in the aftermath of India’s Balakot strike in northwestern KP province against the terror sanctuary. The Air Force got a whopping 21 percent increase in its budget to boost its capacity and capabilities.