Naeem Khalid Lodhi

Naeem Khalid Lodhi is a retired three-star rank general who after retirement has also served as the Federal Minister for National Security, Minister for Defence Production, CEO Fauji Fertilizer Company.

Naeem Khalid Lodhi
Federal Minister for National Security
Caretaker
In office 27 June 2018 – 18 August 2018
Preceded by	Abdullah Hussain Haroon
Succeeded by	Moeed W. Yusuf
Minister for Defence Production
Caretaker
In office 27 June 2018 – 16 August 2018
Preceded by	Usman Ibrahim
Succeeded by	Zubaida Jalal Khan
CEO Fauji Fertilizer Company
In office March 2012 – March 2015[1]
Preceded by	Malik Arif Hayat
Succeeded by	Shafqaat Ahmed
Defence Secretary of Pakistan
In office 28 November 2011 – 11 January 2012
Preceded by	Syed Athar Ali
Succeeded by	Nargis Sethi
Commander XXXI Corps
In office October 2009 – March 2011
Preceded by	Muhammad Haroon Aslam
Succeeded by	Muhammad Yousaf
Personal details
Education	Pakistan Command and Staff College National Defence University
Awards	Hilal-i-Imtiaz
Military service
Allegiance	Pakistan
Branch/service	Pakistan Army
Years of service	1974-2011
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	Corps of Engineers

Early life and education

Lodhi earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He later attended the Command and Staff College in Quetta and the National Defence University in Islamabad. He also holds a master's degree in International Relations.^[2]

Military career

He was commissioned in the Army on 27 October 1974 in the Corps of Engineers.^[3]

He has served on various command, staff, and instructional assignments in his career in the Army including the important appointments of Directing Staff at the National Defence University, Pakistan, Commander Corps Engineers, Director General Engineering Directorate, Director General Staff Duties Directorate, General Officer Commanding Bahawalpur, General Headquarters Rawalpindi and Corps Commander Bahawalpur. On account of his distinguished military service, he has been conferred the award of Hilal-i-Imtiaz (M).^[2]

He retired from the army in March 2011.^[2]

Civil service and business career

Following his retirement from military service, Lodhi was appointed as the Defence Secretary of Pakistan on 28 November 2011.^[4] However, he was dismissed on 11 January 2012 by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani amid the political tensions related to the "Memogate" affair, a case that strained civil-military relations at the time.^[5][6] He was replaced by Nargis Sethi on 12 January 2012.

In April 2012, Lodhi was appointed Managing Director and CEO of Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), one of Pakistan’s largest fertiliser manufacturers.^[7] During his tenure, he also held directorships at FFC Energy Limited, Fauji Meat Limited, and other subsidiaries.^[8] In more recent years he was working in an engineering firm, H-Cube Pvt Ltd., as a consultant and adviser.^[9]

Political career

In the caretaker federal cabinet formed ahead of Pakistan’s 2018 general elections, Lodhi served as the Minister for National Security and Defence Production. His term began on 27 June 2018 and ended in August 2018.^[10]

Writings, media presence and public advocacy

Lodhi is a regular commentator on defence and strategic affairs and contributes opinion pieces to national publications. He also frequently appears on television as a defence analyst.^[11] In April 2024, he launched a reconciliation initiative aimed at easing tensions among Pakistan’s political parties, judiciary, and military, calling for mutual respect and institutional harmony.^[12]

Some of his articles and columns include:

English

• In Narratives Magazine: “Armed Forces’ Reforms Agenda” (29 January 2023), in which he outlines a comprehensive strategy to modernize Pakistan’s military—calling for institutional restructuring, efficiency improvements, and a hybrid-warfare command concept.^[13]

• In The Nation: “Short‑term immediate reconciliation: A path forward for political and institutional unity in Pakistan”, advocating for a national reconciliation framework amid political polarization.^[14]

Urdu

• Essay: “Bain ul Aqwami Khatarnak Khel Aur Pakistan” (“Dangerous International Games and Pakistan”), published on 1 May 2019, examining Pakistan’s strategic dilemmas in an evolving global context.^[15]

Awards and decorations

Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Crescent of Excellence)		Tamgha-e-Diffa (General Service Medal) Siachen Glacier Clasp 2002
Tamgha-e-Baqa (Nuclear Test Medal) 1998	Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan (Escalation with India Medal) 2002	Hijri Tamgha (Medal of Conviction) (1979)	10 Years Service Medal
20 Years Service Medal	30 Years Service Medal	35 Years Service Medal	Jamhuriat Tamgha (Democracy Medal) 1988
Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha (Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1990	Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan (Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1997	Command & Staff College Quetta Student's Medal	Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e- Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam (100th Birth Anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah) 1976