Pakistan has dismissed speculations that the ongoing phased programme in its land forces to organise them on modern lines is based on Indian pattern of army commands.

''The move to set up army commands in phases was part of the efforts aimed at organising the force on modern lines so that it could effectively meet the present day challenges,'' an army spokesman said.

''This (the programme) was required to keep pace with the changing times,'' the spokesman told The Nation newspaper, adding that the programme was already in progress.

The spokesman was commenting on a news report claiming that Pakistan has planned to set up army commands on India's pattern to further streamline the administration in its largest military force, a step that would also help it ''retain'' the superannuating commanders for some more years.

The spokesman took serious view of the claims in the said report that the proposals seeking increase in the retirement age of the army commanders and personnel were meant to serve a particular purpose.

''These proposals if approved would be for all the government servants including the armed forces,'' he said.