Challenges of Economic Security in Pakistan: A National Security Perspective

The concept of economic security has significantly evolved since its inception during the 1930s Great Depression, gaining formal UN recognition in 1985. This technical report examines economic security as a dimension of national security for Pakistan, analysing the structural vulnerabilities — in trade, external financing, energy, food systems, and macroeconomic management — that undermine the country’s economic resilience. The report traces the global evolution of economic security doctrine from post-Cold War discourse to contemporary policy frameworks, and applies this lens to Pakistan’s development challenges. It proposes a structured analytical framework for assessing and strengthening Pakistan’s economic security, situating economic policy reform within a national security narrative.