-Says PCNS properly briefed on NSP
-Asserts NSP aimed at economic security
-Hopes move will put country on right course
-Opposition MPs had alleged govt of framing NSP without taking Parliament on board
By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: Brushing aside the Opposition’s recent protest in the Senate, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf on Thursday has said that the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) had been briefed on the National Security Policy (NSP).
A day earlier, the Opposition’s lawmakers had alleged the government of framing the NSP without taking Parliament on board and staged a token walkout from the House against the move.
Speaking to media, Moeed Yusuf was of the view that the Opposition had boycotted the in-camera meeting of the parliamentary body. He, however, said that the government was still ready to brief the Opposition on the NSP. “We are ready to brief everyone on the NSP and take input,” he added.
“The NSP has been made by consensus and no government will change it,” said Moeed. He maintained that the NSP was aimed at economic security and it will give the country a direction.
“Policies are made in the country, but they are not implemented appropriately,” Moeed said, adding that they had devised a strategy to implement the NSP. He said that regional peace and economic security were their top priorities. Replying to another question, the adviser said that he could not say how much of the policy will be made public. The NSP will be issued in the next few days, he added.
Earlier, National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf on Wednesday said, comprehensive citizen-centric National Security Policy (NSP) based on the economic security would be a guiding document to take country on right direction.
He further said, federal cabinet in an historic move has approved the country’s first-ever citizen-centric NSP based on the economic security at its core.
He said that the policy focused overall aspects of national security and under the Prime Minister’s leadership it has been codified that economic security would be the core of the Policy. “Strong economy would ensure more spending on military and human security.”
Moeed said NSP formulation process started back in 2014 which got completed in seven years, as there were many sensitivity and complexities into it, whereas massive debate was carried out in the process. He further said that it would be a classified document collectively but a full public version would be released by the prime minister next week or ten days and would also review its progress after every month.
He said: “This umbrella document will, overtime, help guide sectoral policies for the fulfillment of our national security objectives.” National policy document would be updated annually through constructive suggestions that would helpful in future as well, he added.
Earlier, the ‘historic’ National Security Policy will give priority to the country’s economy and the security of a common man, National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf said. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary, along with National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, shared the developments and details of the policy.
“After the NSC’s endorsement of Pakistan’s first-ever National Security Policy yesterday, the Cabinet has approved it today. It is a truly historic achievement; a citizen-centric comprehensive national security policy with economic security at the core will now be pursued in earnest,” Moeed later said in a tweet. He also thanked the country’s civil and military leadership for all their support and input.
“The Policy would not have seen the light of day without the Prime Minister’s constant leadership and encouragement,” he said. Shedding light on the newly-devised policy, Yusuf said that the approved policy is the first-ever in the history of Pakistan, adding that it is comprehensive in nature and prioritises the security of the common man.
“Economic security is the core for human and military security,” he said. Talking about the country’s external relations, the NSA said that the agenda of this security policy is peace with “neighbouring and other countries.”
“We have identified the diversity, we want to build unity around them.”
Explaining the policy, he divided and explained the important points under each security category, including human security, population, health, climate, water, food and gender, sovereignty and military. He said that the process started in 2014 and the 100-page document has been compiled with the help of federal ministries and civil and military bodies.
“The question people often ask is what happens after the policy?” he said. “The best part is that the National Security Committee has also prepared an implementation plan and, every month, there will be a follow-up meeting which prime minister Imran Khan will monitor”
“This policy is like an umbrella, under which all sector and strategic policies will remain and will be implemented,” he added. Pakistan’s first-ever National Security Policy (NSP) 2022-2026 was approved on Monday, with Prime Minister Imran Khan terming it a “historic moment” for the country. The NSP was approved during the 36th meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), which was chaired by the prime minister, according to a statement from the PM Office.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Information and Broadcasting, Interior, Finance, Human Rights, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, all Services Chiefs, National Security Advisor, and senior civil and military officers, the statement said. National Security Advisor (NSA) Mooed Yusuf, presenting the NSP for approval, highlighted that Pakistan was shifting to a “Comprehensive National Security Framework”.
