ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) has raised concerns over the government’s failure to convene even a single meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) during the past year, marking the first time since its establishment in 2013 that the body remained inactive.

According to PILDAT’s annual performance report covering March 5, 2024, to March 4, 2025, the NSC, Pakistan’s key national security decision-making forum, was completely sidelined. The report also noted that the Cabinet Committee on Defence, which served a similar role before the NSC, has not been reactivated.

In comparison, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held eight NSC meetings during his tenure (2013-17), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi increased the frequency to nearly 10 meetings per year (2017-18), while Imran Khan (2018-22) averaged three meetings annually. Shehbaz Sharif, in his previous term (2022-23), convened an average of five meetings per year.

PILDAT’s findings highlight concerns about national security oversight and the government’s governance practices, as the NSC plays a crucial role in formulating security policies and addressing strategic threats.