Egypt's national security committee has asked the government to increase budgetary allocations to the Interior Ministry, by 800 million US dollars. The additional funding aims to enhance security against terrorist threats -- but the government has yet to approve the request. CGTN's Yasser Hakim reports. 

The budget for the Ministry of Interior has already been increased from about $2.35 billion to 2.75 billion in the upcoming fiscal year. But several MPs want the budget to exceed $3 billion. They say the Ministry of Interior and security forces need more assistance in their crackdown on terrorism.

SAMIR RAGHEB, CHAIRMAN, ARAB INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES "The funding will be allocated to several components from weaponry, equipment, training, logistics and even improving living conditions as they are fighting in tough desert terrains. Terrorists receive the modern equipment, in all its forms, from the black markets and the security forces have to keep up to date with the anti-terrorism facilities."

Egypt has launched a war on terrorists since 2014. The country has been suffering from terrorist attacks by ISIL affiliated groups that infiltrated from its borders with Libya and Gaza after 2011. They have targeted security forces and civilians. But the military crackdown has succeeded in reducing the rate of violence in the country.

SAMIR RAGHEB, CHAIRMAN, ARAB INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES "The number of terrorist operations was around four thousand in the last four years. That's about a terrorist attack every one and a half days. Now, weeks and months pass by without any attacks. Nearly 90% of the capabilities of these terrorist groups have been eradicated, the number of militants killed or arrested and their infrastructure such as their artillery, their arsenals or weapon manufacturing centers."

Egypt's state budget is tight as it tries to reduce the annual deficit. So any increase in expenditure on security might be taken out from other vital sectors such as health or education. But most Egyptians we talked to have no complaints.

"Education and health are important but the budget is limited and security is more important. Without security, you cannot go to school for education. Without security, you cannot go to hospital for treatment. So security is ahead of everything."

"It will not affect education or health because there are other sources of income now, from the Suez Canal, the latest gas discoveries, production and state revenue is increasing. However security should always be the priority."

YASSER HAKIM, CAIRO "A parliamentary meeting is expected with the ministers of planning and Finance to seek the funds for the security forces. An approval has to be issued before the new fiscal year which starts on July 1st. Yasser Hakim CGTN Cairo."