[Translation/Observer Network Chen Sijia] Comprehensive reports from Pakistan National Radio and the "Dawn" on December 27, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan presided over the 36th National Security Committee meeting on the 27th, and the meeting reviewed and approved the first national security policy in the country's history. The policy will put economic security at the heart and cover challenges and security issues facing Pakistan both inside and outside.
Imran Khan emphasized the importance of economic issues in a speech on the 13th of this month. He said that Pakistan's national security should focus not only on military affairs, but also on inclusive growth. If a small number of people become extremely rich and more people are left behind, national security will be difficult to guarantee, and inequality will become the basis of social instability. "How to achieve fair and inclusive development is an important issue related to national security."
Pakistan National Radio report screenshot
At the National Security Council meeting on the 27th, Imran Khan emphasized that Pakistan's security depends on the safety of its citizens, and he believes that Pakistan is ready to deal with any internal and external threats. He said that the formulation and adoption of national security policies was a "historic moment" in Pakistan, which required guidance to all Pakistani government agencies to ensure that their efforts were consistent with the direction of national security policies.
Pakistani Prime Minister's National Security Advisor Moyed Yousuf introduced that Pakistan's national security policy has been discussed and compiled for 7 years, and has summarized the opinions of government agencies, politicians from various provinces, experts and scholars and the private sector. The policy will serve as a dynamic document and review and update the content every year.
Yousof stressed that Pakistan is turning to a comprehensive national security framework with the ultimate goal of ensuring the safety and dignity of Pakistani citizens. Therefore, the National Security Council of Pakistan will put economic security at the core, "a stronger economy can create additional resources that will be wisely allocated to further consolidate military and people's security."
Pakistan's Forum Express said that in addition to core issues such as economic security, national security policies will also cover internal and external security issues in Pakistan, including the country's water security, population growth, terrorism and foreign policy, especially on Kashmir and the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on neighboring countries.
Pakistan National Radio said that the Pakistani government has built a detailed implementation framework for the policy, and the national security department will cooperate with relevant departments through the framework to review policy progress. National security policy will be submitted to the cabinet for approval before it is officially implemented, and the Pakistani government will issue a public version of the document at the right time.
Imran Khan presided over the 36th National Security Council meeting of Pakistan. Video screenshot
The current Pakistan economy is facing difficulties. When reviewing Pakistan's economic performance in 2021, the Forum Express pointed out that although Pakistan's economy showed signs of improvement in the first half of the year, the economic performance for the whole year was still weak, the inflation level far exceeded expectations, and the average inflation rate reached more than 9%. The sharp rise in food prices such as sugar and wheat has also had a significant impact on the people.
Foreign direct investment in Pakistan continues to be sluggish. It is reported that the progress of projects in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has slowed down, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s sixth review of Pakistan's $6 billion loan rescue plan, which was originally scheduled to be completed in June this year, has also been delayed again and again.
report believes that the delay in IMF review has greatly increased Pakistan's economic difficulties and uncertainty, which has exacerbated the depreciation of Pakistan's currency. In addition, Pakistan's trade deficit is also widening, with the trade deficit from July to November rising to US$21 billion from US$9 billion in the same period last year.
The Forum Express pointed out that as the Pakistani economy relies on the IMF's loan bailout, the Pakistani government may have to continue negotiating with the IMF to obtain a new loan and try to promote the seventh review process. The report concluded that high inflation, high unemployment and energy crisis seem to be symbols of Pakistan's economy in 2021. The Pakistani government needs to consider its growth strategy next year to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
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