ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday inaugurated the Islamabad Security Dialogue and launched the National Security Division’s Advisory Portal connecting over 100 think-tanks and university departments in Pakistan with policy makers. Addressing the inaugural session of the Dialogue, the premier said that Pakistan is pursuing a national vision focusing on economic prosperity and human welfare. The Prime Minister said that security required that we make the common citizens of Pakistan safe, secure and provide them necessities of life. At the inaugural session, the Prime Minister was introduced to the New Comprehensive Security Framework (CSF) which is based on the three pillars of military, economic and human security with economic progress at the core. He added that Pakistan’s economic security lens prioritizes connectivity, domestic and regional peace, and development partnerships with the world. The Prime Minister congratulated the National Security Division for crystallizing this framework. The Prime Minister lauded the efforts of the Army, intelligence and civilian law enforcement agencies for playing a monumental role in the fight against terrorism. He said that to ensure a truly secure country we must make the common citizens of Pakistan secure. “National Security today includes many aspects that have been ignored in previous decades, including climate security, food security and economic prosperity,” he added. Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the dollar inflow must be consistently greater than dollar outflow in order to expand our national resource pie and use these resources for human welfare and robust defense. He added that deficit leads to a weaking of the rupee, inflation and contributes to poverty. The premier said that under his government the country was able to fight a debilitating current account deficit, increase exports and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). He said that unlike before, his government is undertaking dedicated climate security programs, including the internationally renowned 10 billion tree tsunami. He said climate change poses one of the most serious problems for Pakistan in the coming decades and his government was making strenuous efforts in ensuring the country is prepared for climate change. He was therefore pleased to see it included in the Comprehensive Security Framework. He said that his government has prioritized human welfare through Ehsaas and Panagah programs. “We have administered the largest cash transfers in Pakistan’s history completely transparently” he said. Furthermore, the government has successfully managed the COVID pandemic while protecting the poor. He said that even the world recognized our success. Talking on the regional peace, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that economic prosperity cannot be sustained without peace in the neighborhood. “That is why my vision for the region is peace,” he said. The premier said that Pakistan is poised to become the trade and transit hub for the extended region. He said that India must commit to giving Kashmiris their right to self-determination as per the UNSC Resolutions. He said that he offered dialogue to India when he came into government but unfortunately India took illegal actions on 5th August 2019. He said that Kashmir was the core issue between Pakistan and India and if a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue is found by giving Kashmiris the right to self-determination it would be beneficial for both countries. He said that India must take the first step and create an enabling environment for moving forward. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan wishes for a political settlement in Afghanistan that can lead to sustainable peace. He said that “peace in Afghanistan is the key to unlocking the connectivity potential of the region.” Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Division and Strategic Policy Planning said during the launch of the Advisory Portal that this portal would make policy making more inclusive by allowing thinktanks and universities to provide policy recommendations on national security directly to NSD. The Prime Minister congratulated the National Security Division for the initiative and termed it an example of the government’s commitment to inclusive decision making.