The National Security Committee (NSC) on Monday approved a National Security Policy, the first of its kind in Pakistan, which the government says has been formulated to align the country’s security mechanisms against ‘both internal and external threats’.
Chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the 36th NSC meeting was also attended by key ministers, joint chiefs of staff committee, all services chiefs, national security advisors, and senior civil and military officers.
National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf said during a briefing that the new policy signals Pakistan’s shift to a more comprehensive national security framework, which includes matters of economic empowerment, military security, and human development.
Underlying the policy is the core belief that a strong economy in Pakistan will lead to greater national security. “To ensure this citizen-centric approach to security, the NSP put economic security at the core,” Yusuf further explained.
Progress on implementation of the new policy will be overseen by the National Security Division, alongside relevant ministries and departments.
The new policy comes after Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks earlier this month that his administration will consider a broader definition of security.
“We all know our focus was on military [power] but it (national security) is actually an all-encompassing thing. You can’t have national security until there is inclusive growth,” Khan had said at a plenary session of the Margalla Dialogue 21.
The federal cabinet will review the policy before it is officially adopted, after which a public version will be released.
