Economic Stability as a Keystone for National Security in Pakistan

This paper written by two scholars Iftikhar A. Qureshi and Hassan Jalil Shah, informs about the paradigm relationship among stability of the economy and national security for Pakistan. It is stated that the economic decline which also seriously affected global stability made its contribution to numerous security threats that the nations faced. Security has not always been associated only with the military force but it includes some other components as well, such as economic, political and diplomatic stability. Presidential candidates of Pakistan reveal infestation of a multitude of challenges like fiscal deficit, high unemployment, and rapid population increase collectively damaging the pillar of peace. The focus is not on the prescriptive or dictatorial elements of fiscal and monetary policies, but on how the economic revival, especially from the grassroots level could be used as a tool for national security. They give emphasize on these basic elements that would foster national integration, interfaith harmony, and educational development.

One of the main issues touched on in the article is huge sums of foreign debts and dependency on foreign aids Pakistan owes creditworthiness to and which thus hinder the country's economic development. The paper sheds the light on historical monetary bad management as well as the impacts it had such as the country's constant detours to the IMF bailouts. It states that this economic factor is a fundamental one which creates conditions for viewing the interrelation of military expenditures and economic growth as necessary to be re-evaluated and re-assessed. Above all, the scholars consider multiple geopolitical issues with national identity and external influences that also amplify Pakistan's security situation affect. They use the example of those who plead for a compromised policy not to sacrifice the economic development because of the military expenditure. They include the promotion of policies that Sustainably provides for the long-term of both the country in terms of the economies, enhancing the transparency and accountability, reducing the dependency on external financial aid, and prioritizing the education sector, particularly the youth, because they are the future of the county.

Generally, the authors succeed in making a function of economic situation in the issues of national security and preferring a sweeping outlook of the policies in order to create a secure and integrated country. Their reasons also show how avoiding excessive military spending will help a state to invest in the vital co-operation between security and economic growth, a prerequisite of the long-term national stability.