Islamabad: In a move that would help the country save millions of Dollars, Pakistan has decided to reduce its half-a-million-strong Army by 50,000 troops this year, a step that would also improve its "teeth to tail" ratio and combat efficiency.

A decision to this effect was taken at a two-day meeting in Islamabad of top Generals, chaired by President Pervez Musharraf, who is also the Chief of the Army.

"The restructuring plan envisages the Army to be lean but lethal and hard hitting. It will improve the teeth to tail ratio, in which tail is being reduced by about 50,000 men to allow sizeable savings in funds," a defence statement issued last night (Apr 27, 2004) said.

All top brass of the Pakistan Army from Major Generals and above took part in the meeting at the Army headquarters at the garrison town of Rawalpindi.

The statement said that the manpower saving is being directed to enhance the combat efficiency of the Army.

"However, this reduction in manpower will in no case affect the fighting potential of the Army, it will rather transform the Army into more potent, enhance its response capacities and result in a fine balance between quality and quantity," it said.