Security requires economic, institutional stability: expert

Business Recorder reported that foreign affairs expert Muhammad Mehdi believes Pakistan's security cannot be measured by military power alone. He argued for a wider outlook that gives weight to economic stability, sound institutions and public trust. Mehdi delivered the remarks in a lecture at Johns Hopkins University, which the report places among the globe's leading 20 academic bodies, followed by questions from faculty and students.

In the remarks, Mehdi said that looking at Pakistan's security only through armed forces, defence capacity and borders captures a single piece of modern state security. He described the concept as multidimensional, covering cybersecurity, technology, internal peace, how well political institutions function, and public trust. He argued that political confrontation, provincial grievances, economic pressures and terrorism are linked and together shape the state's overall capacity.

Mehdi also addressed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, arguing that large projects should be judged by measurable outcomes such as industrial output, trade, exports, jobs and technology transfer rather than infrastructure alone. On regional defence, he urged that the Mecca Defence Agreement be reviewed against treaty duties and national interests. He also noted opportunities with the United States in trade, investment, technology and diplomacy, while stressing that no foreign partnership can replace action on Pakistan's domestic economic weaknesses.