CASS Lahore Hosts Event on Geoeconomics and Security

Spokesman Report
Lahore: The Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS) Lahore organised an
event titled, “Redefining Power: Geoeconomics, Technology and Security
in an era of Strategic Competition” on 19 August 2026. As an
independent think tank, CASS Lahore organises academic events for
scholars and practitioners interested in national security in its wider
context. The event was attended by academics, intellectuals, and domain
experts. Ms Sibra Waseem, a Research Assistant at CASS Lahore, delivered
the opening address.
Mr Haroon Sharif, Chairman, PREF, Islamabad, highlighted that Pakistan
needs to build on its geopolitical relevance by translating strategic
partnerships and CPEC into investment, technology transfer, and
industrial ecosystems. He highlighted opportunities arising from
Pakistan’s strategic location. He underscored the need to diversify the
country’s energy mix and reduce vulnerability to imported oil,
accounting for 85 per cent of requirements. He stressed the need to
create opportunities for 4 million annual labour-market entrants.
Additionally, he suggested focusing on sectors with potential for value
addition, productivity and exports, alongside knowledge and technology
partnerships, R&D and greater private-sector participation.
Dr Safdar Sohail, Executive Director, SPRC, Islamabad, emphasised the
need to link Pakistan’s geopolitical relationships with economic
transformation by converting strategic opportunities, particularly
through the US and CPEC, into manufacturing capacity, technology
partnerships and export competitiveness. Given Pakistan’s narrow export
base, he stressed the importance of development finance and industrial
policy. He highlighted the provinces’ role following the 18th Amendment,
alongside better data, standards and integration of finance,
manufacturing and SMEs to build a self-sustaining economy. Taking
discussion further, he also commended the PAF for its decisive victory
in the May 2025 war, even in the face of severe financial constraints.
In his concluding remarks, Air Marshal Asim Suleiman (Retd), President,
CASS, Lahore, emphasised that military power remains essential, but
economy, technology, and national security are becoming interconnected,
with disruption in one affecting others. For Pakistan, this
transformation is significant given its geostrategic location,
connectivity and growing digital economy, which must be converted into
sustainable economic gains. Furthermore, he underscored a growth
strategy that stands behind the strong while ensuring a level playing
field for development. Highlighting the significance of human capital
development, he cited Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu’s
vision of strengthening PAF by harnessing best available human resources
and wisely spending the PAF resources, which contributed to Pakistan’s
success during Marka-e-Haq.
The event concluded with a lively interactive session. It highlighted
economic geography, GDP growth model, and supporting policies as
powerful tool. The participants appreciated CASS Lahore’s initiative in
hosting an engaging and thought-provoking discussion.