Nontraditional security becoming increasingly important: experts

Non-traditional security was now a part of traditional security and its importance could not be denied, University of Sindh Jamshoro Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Siddique Kalhoro said.

Speaking at the two-day First International Conference on Non-Traditional Security Paradigms of Pakistan: Options and Challenges, he said nontraditional security did not require military force as it involved issues such as climate change, lack of resources, epidemic diseases, natural disasters, illegal migration, foodshortages, human smuggling, drug-trafficking and transnational crime.

The event kicked off on Thursday at the University of Sindh Jamshoro. The inaugural ceremony of the conference was presided over by the VC, while Sindh Chief Minister's Advisor Nisar Ahmed Khuhro was the chief guest.

"Whether it is threats, issues or challenges, non-traditional security has become an important part of the national security agenda," he said. Dr Kalhoro added there had been an increase in such issues in Pakistan over the last few years.

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The VC continued Pakistan was fast running out of agricultural and potable drinking water, both essential elements to sustaining life. "The population explosion of Pakistan poses another grave threat to sustainability as it was leading to poorer labour and a higher number of mouths to feed," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said that the country was facing nontraditional security threats, including epidemic diseases, drug trafficking, food shortages, water scarcity, money laundering, the energy crisis and other issues.

"We are facing all these dangers," he said. "Pakistan had been facing a host of such challenges that have seriously impacted its development, growth, economic progress and political stability. He said earthquakes, hurricanes, famines, floods and other natural calamities were also on the rise and needed to be tackled.

He said the role of higher education institutions and researchers was more important. Khuhro pointed out that Pakistan was a developing country and the issues it was facing were in accordance to its resources. He said a global efforts was needed to tackle such matters.

Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro Chancellor Professor Muhammad Aslam Uqaili said Pakistan was currently facing various challenges including terrorism, population growth, political instability, economic challenges, climate change, human trafficking and many other nontraditional security paradigms. In his opinion, Pakistan has yet to become capable of facing these problems. After the inaugural ceremony, the working session with presentation of papers from scholars started at Sheikh Ayaz Auditorium of the Arts Faculty Building, University of Sindh Jamshoro.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2021.