Even as wickets tumbled at the other end in a slow start for Pakistan, Shoaib Malik gave the visitors much-needed impetus through the middle.
Sunil Narine picked up three wickets that ripped through Pakistan's middle-order.
West Indies' fielding on the day moved from abysmal to sublime - Carlos Brathwaite took a blinder to get rid of Imad Wasim.
Wahab Riaz smashed two sixes and a four in his 10-ball 24 that propelled Pakistan to a competitive 132.
Ahmed Shehzad was involved a nasty collision with Chadwick Walton and had to be stretchered off the field. He returned to action later in the second innings.
Marlon Samuels scored a quickfire 44 but his dismissal allowed Pakistan to claw back into the contest.
Shadab Khan took 4 for 14, including the big wicket of Marlon Samuels to put Pakistan in the drivers seat in the low-scoring game.
Despite conceding two fours off the first two balls, Hasan Ali successfully defended 14 off the final over to give Pakistan a three-run win.