Pakistan's energy sector is facing a significant crisis, primarily driven by the increasing demand-supply gap, inefficiencies in energy production, and heavy reliance on imported fuels. This research examines the multifaceted challenges affecting Pakistan's energy security, including issues such as policy inadequacies, global energy politics, and a highly skewed energy mix dominated by fossil fuels. A key contributing factor to the crisis is the rising circular debt, which exacerbates the financial burden on the energy sector, leading to power outages and stunted economic growth. The paper highlights the urgent need for both short-term and longterm solutions to address these challenges. Short-term recommendations include revising Independent Power Producers (IPP) agreements, improving utility companies’ operations, and promoting the use of renewable energy sources. Long-term strategies focus on hybrid renewable energy projects, energy market liberalization, and the strengthening of indigenous resources. The paper emphasizes that comprehensive reforms in governance, policy, and energy market structures are essential for ensuring a sustainable, affordable, and efficient energy supply for Pakistan's future development.
_________________________In 2022, Pakistan introduced its first National Security Policy (2022-2026), which shifted focus from geostrategy to geo-economy, positioning economic security as the cornerstone of national stability. The policy identifies key challenges, including external imbalances and economic inequalities, and aims to address them through a comprehensive approach. Key focus areas include promoting sustainable growth through higher savings and industrial development, improving fiscal management, enhancing energy security, and fostering technological innovation. The paper also emphasizes the need for an industrial policy, consistent governance, increased investment in research and development (R&D), and specialized vocational training. Furthermore, strengthening regional trade relations, improving law and order, and diversifying energy sources are critical for Pakistan’s economic security. By addressing these areas, Pakistan aims to enhance industrial competitiveness, increase foreign investment, and secure long-term economic growth. The paper concludes with strategic recommendations for policy continuity, fiscal discipline, and investment in human capital to create a resilient and diversified economy.
_________________________Social security is a vital system of programs designed to provide assistance to vulnerable populations, addressing their needs in areas such as healthcare, housing, education, and food security. In Pakistan, social security initiatives face challenges due to fragmentation, inefficiency, and a lack of coordination among the various programs. Despite the constitutional commitment to providing basic necessities and protection for marginalized groups, the government allocates less than 1% of its GDP to social security, significantly lower than the average for developing nations. As a result, approximately 95 million people remain unprotected by adequate social coverage. This research highlights the critical need for a more coordinated and comprehensive approach to social security in Pakistan. It presents a set of recommendations aimed at addressing gaps in healthcare access, income support, food security, housing, education, and climate change resilience. The paper also advocates for labor market reforms, stakeholder collaboration, and robust monitoring systems to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of social security programs in the country.
_________________________Environmental security is essential for a nation's stability and development, yet Pakistan faces significant environmental challenges, including air pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. The rapid urbanization, population growth, and climate change further exacerbate these issues. Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, contribute significantly to climate change through the emission of greenhouse gases. Pakistan's forest cover is alarmingly low, leading to increased deforestation driven by urbanization, overharvesting, and unsustainable agricultural practices. Despite having comprehensive environmental laws, Pakistan's enforcement mechanisms are weak, and there is a lack of coordination among stakeholders at all levels of government. The country also lags in adopting modern technological solutions for environmental monitoring. To address these challenges, recommendations include improving coordination through task forces, enhancing law enforcement, utilizing advanced technology, and investing in training for environmental staff. Awareness campaigns and the inclusion of environmental topics in education curricula are also vital for fostering a culture of sustainability.
_________________________The Pakistan National Security Policy (NSP) 2022- 2026 presents a comprehensive framework to align state institutions with national interests, addressing socioeconomic and political challenges through a citizencentric and economy-oriented approach. Military security plays a critical role in safeguarding Pakistan’s territorial integrity and internal stability, prerequisites for peace, development, and prosperity. This paper explores military strategies focused on protecting borders and national assets, alongside ensuring internal security. It emphasizes strategic alignment with constitutional responsibilities and geopolitical needs, highlighting Pakistan’s complex security landscape shaped by regional and internal threats. The recommendations include leveraging the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for economic development, strengthening regional connectivity, resolving domestic socio-political challenges, and enhancing counter-terrorism strategies. An integrated approach to national security, emphasizing diplomacy, socio-economic mainstreaming, and technological advancements, is essential for addressing evolving threats and fostering stability.
_________________________The objective of this research is to evaluate Pakistan’s existing national cyber security policy in order to understand its context, effectiveness and readiness to deter cyber security challenges. As the world has become intensively connected and digitized through the internet or information technology, securing cyber space has become the biggest challenge, and has exposed the world to the existence of a novel, global threat. Since the threat to cyber security has no geographical boundaries and is beyond the traditional understanding of security, it is considered to be a paradigm shift in the area of security. The seriousness and enormity attached to cyber threats intrigued us into investigating the status of Pakistan in securing its cyber space and to analyses the National Cyber Security Policy (NCSP) that was developed by the government of Pakistan in 2021 to combat cyber threats from within and outside the country. Cybersecurity threats and Pakistan’s preparedness for them have also been analyzed in this research. This qualitative study intends to employ a qualitative technique for the collection of data, i.e., policy documentary analysis, to investigate the nature of cyber security policy.
_________________________Health security, a critical component of national security, necessitates robust health policies. In Pakistan, the absence of a dedicated health security policy is mitigated by the National Health Vision and the National Action Plan for Health Security. These frameworks aim to enhance health services, yet challenges persist due to low health financing, inadequate rural healthcare access, and insufficient universal health insurance coverage. The disparity in urban-rural healthcare facilities exacerbates maternal and child mortality rates and poor sanitation standards. Policy implementation faces hurdles such as weak provincial coordination, limited stakeholder engagement, and underutilization of technology. Addressing these gaps requires increased health spending, equitable resource allocation, and innovative public-private partnerships. Emphasizing technology adoption and incentivizing healthcare in underserved areas can drive systemic improvements. Strategic interventions can achieve universal health coverage and a resilient health system aligned with Pakistan’s national security objectives.
_________________________Food security remains a critical challenge for Pakistan, exacerbated by factors such as rapid population growth, urbanization, climate change, and economic instability. The National Food Security Policy, introduced in 2018, provides a comprehensive framework to address food availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability. However, ineffective implementation has hindered its success. This paper evaluates Pakistan's food security status, analyzes challenges in agriculture, and examines government policies aimed at overcoming these issues. It explores key factors such as low agricultural investment, poor crop yields, water scarcity, and climate change, which contribute to food insecurity. The study proposes a strategic plan to improve food security, including time-bound KPIs, contingency measures, and actions to protect agricultural land from real estate development. Additionally, it recommends mandatory soil fertility testing to enhance agricultural productivity. Addressing these challenges will be essential for ensuring long-term food security and economic stability.
_________________________Pakistan's cultural diversity, rooted in ancient civilizations and enriched by Islamic teachings, forms a critical element of its national identity. This study explores the role of cultural security within the framework of the National Security Policy of Pakistan 2022-2026. It emphasizes the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage, promoting interfaith harmony, and fostering respect for traditions to ensure national coherence. The research identifies challenges to cultural security, including moral and ethical erosion, and examines mitigation strategies such as educational reforms, policy amendments, and cultural exchange programs. Recommendations include legislative updates, fostering inclusivity through multilingual education, and collaborative efforts among federal ministries, NGOs, and civil society. By addressing these issues, Pakistan can preserve its rich cultural heritage, enhance social cohesion, and mitigate threats to national harmony. Cultural security, thus, emerges as a pillar of sustainable national development and unity.