A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmental organizations, but some are semi-autonomous agencies within government, and some are associated with particular political parties, businesses or the military. Think tanks are often funded by individual donations, with many also accepting government grants.
The National Security Council is a federal institutional and consultative body chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan as its chairman. The NSC is a principal forum that is mandated for considering national security and foreign policy matters with the senior national security advisers and Cabinet ministers. The idea and inception of National Security Council was first conceived in 1969 under the President Yahya Khan, its functions were to advise and assist the president and prime minister on national security and foreign policies.
Zubaida Jalal, is a Pakistani politician, a teacher, libertarian and social activist, who served as the Defence Production Minister from August 2018 until April 2022.
Sherry Rehman is a Pakistani politician, journalist and former diplomat who has been the member of the Senate of Pakistan since 2015. She was the first female Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from March to August 2018 and served as Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States from 2011 to 2013. She is currently serving as the Federal Minister for the Ministry of Climate Change.
The Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Karachi whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs.
Syed Safwanullah was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Federal Minister of Housing and Works till 2007. He was a member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary is a Pakistani politician currently holding the position of Federal Minister of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives and Inter Provincial Coordination. He is also the Secretary General of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since 29 February 2024.
Marvi Memon is a Pakistani politician who recently served as Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme, from February 2015 until June 2018. She had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from March 2008 to June 2011 and again from June 2013 to May 2018.
General elections were held in Pakistan on 16 November 1988 to elect the members of the National Assembly and Senate.
Shaukat Qadir is an independent Risk and Security Analyst who works generally in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He started his career as a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and then moved to the Pakistan Army. He retired in 1998 as a Brigadier. In 1999, he became the founder and vice-president, and later president, of the semi-independent think tank Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI). In 2001, he sought early retirement due to disagreements with the military government. Since then, he has been visiting faculty at the Fatima Jinnah Women University, writing in various national and international newspapers and journals, and working as an independent Security and Risk Assessment consultant. He is also currently a Senior Analyst at Wikistrat.
Mian Ghulam Sarwar Khan is a Pakistani politician who was the former Federal Minister for Aviation, in office from 24 May 2019 to 10 April 2022. Prior to this position, he was appointed as Federal Minister for Petroleum on 20 August 2018, but he was shifted to the Aviation Ministry. He had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, from August 2018 till January 2023. Previously, he was a member of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2007 and again from June 2013 to May 2018. He remained a member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from 1985 to 1996.
Raza Ahmad Rumi is a Pakistani policy analyst and journalist. He is currently the editor of the Friday Times and chief editor of the online media platform Naya Daur Media.
Abdul Qadir Baloch is a Pakistani politician and retired army general who served as Minister for States and Frontier Regions in the third Sharif ministry from 2013 to 2017, and in the Abbasi cabinet from August 2017 to May 2018. A leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Baloch briefly served as the Governor of Balochistan during Pervez Musharraf rule in 2003.
NA-89 Mianwali-I is a constituency for the National Assembly of Pakistan.
Hassan Askari Rizvi (SI), is a Pakistani political scientist and military analyst who served as caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan in 2018. He is noted for his work in comparative politics, nuclear weapons, and country's domestic policy.
Khurram Dastgir Khan is a Pakistani politician who had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from August 2018 till August 2023. Previously, he was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013, and again from 2013 to 2018.
Usman Ibrahim is a Pakistani politician who had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from August 2018 till August 2023. Previously, he was a member of the National Assembly from March 2008 to May 2018.
Chaudhry Azhar Qayyum Nahra is a Pakistani politician who had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from August 2018 till August 2023. Previously, he was a member of the National Assembly from June 2013 to May 2018.
Chaudhry Nazeer Ahmad is a Pakistani politician who had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan between 2002 and May 2018.
The Establishment, also known as military establishment, is a term used in Pakistan which refers to the deep state cooperation of the Pakistan Armed Forces, the Pakistani intelligence community, and other pro-military government officials and civilians. Responsible for various military coups, the military-dominated Establishment has directly ruled Pakistan for nearly half of its existence since its creation in 1947, while frequently exerting covert dominance over the political leadership during the remainder. The Establishment in Pakistan includes the key decision-makers in the country's military and intelligence services, national security, as well as its foreign and domestic policies, including the state policies of aggressive Islamization during the military dictatorship of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.
