ISLAMABAD – The National Security Committee (NSC) on Monday approvedPakistan’s first ever National Security Policy (NSP) 2022-2026 that puteconomic security at the core.
Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired the 36th meeting of NSC and it wasattended by Federal Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Information &Broadcasting, Interior, Finance, Human Rights, Chairman Joint Chiefs ofStaff Committee, all Services Chiefs, National Security Advisor and seniorcivil and military officers.
National Security Advisor (NSA) Moeed Yusuf presented the policy forapproval during the meeting. The NSA briefed the participants on thesalient features of the NSP. He highlighted that Pakistan was shifting to aComprehensive National Security Framework whereby the ultimate purpose ofnational security was to ensure the safety, security and dignity of thecitizen of Pakistan. To ensure this citizen-centric approach to security,the NSP put economic security at the core. A stronger economy would createadditional resources that would in turn be judiciously distributed tofurther bolster military and human security.
Participants were informed that the NSP had been created through awhole-of-government effort over the last seven years, and includedextensive consultations among federal government institutions, with allprovinces, and with the academia and private sector. It was highlightedthat a detailed implementation framework had been created through which theNational Security Division would review progress in collaboration withrelevant ministries and departments.
Prime Minister Imran Khan emphasized that the security of Pakistan rests inthe security of its citizens and reposed confidence that Pakistan is wellprepared to meet any internal and external threats. NSC members, whileapproving the NSP, appreciated the National Security Division and all othergovernment departments for this effort. Terming the NSP’s formulation andapproval a historic moment, the Prime Minister noted that the Policy mustguide all organs of the government to ensure that their efforts aresynchronized with the overall direction of the NSP. He instructed theNational Security Adviser to present an implementation progress report tothe NSC every month.
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Revitalization of the Planning Committee and the expansion of NSC’sAdvisory Board was also unanimously approved by the participants during themeeting.
The NSP will now be presented to the Cabinet before being officiallyadopted. A public version of the document will be released in due course.
