After Brad Haddin went for just eight, Shane Watson's 30 and 48 from James Hopes had helped Australia build a solid platform, but Pakistan dismissed the pair within the space of three balls to leave the tourists in a more nervous position at 93 for three when Symonds strode to the crease.
He took a while to play himself in, but after the offer of a free hit against Shoaib Malik was smashed for his first four in the 29th over, Symonds began to express himself a little more and hit Saeed Ajmal for six in the next over.
By the time he was bowled by Shahid Afridi for 58 off 62 balls, the damage had been done with Australia well ahead of the run rate and only 25 runs from their target.
Michael Clarke's unbeaten 39 and 10 from Callum Ferguson saw them home.
Earlier, Pakistan had scratched their way to a competitive total mainly thanks to opener Salman Butt and his laborious 57.
Shahid Afridi slammed 41 off just 40 deliveries, but his dismissal while the batting powerplay was in progress left Pakistan's tail exposed in the final overs.
Shoaib Akhtar, however, threw his bat around and landed some lusty blows en route to 25 off just 14 deliveries as Pakistan breached the 200-run mark.
That target looked unlikely at the start when debutant opener Ahmed Shehzad was run out with just five runs on the board.
Shehzad turned a delivery from Nathan Bracken to square leg and set off for a single. Butt at first responded and was almost halfway down the pitch when he turned back even while Shehzad continued with the run.
Clarke swooped on the ball and fired in a return to wicketkeeper Haddin, who whipped off the bails at the striking end. Umpire Billy Bowden adjudged Shehzad as the batsman out.
Butt rebuilt the innings in the company of skipper Younus Khan (28), who looked in fine touch. The two added 53 for the second wicket.
Younus, who survived a run-out attempt on one, was out edging the first ball from Ben Laughlin to Haddin.
Nathan Hauritz then claimed three wickets in quick succession as Pakistan wobbled, ending with figures of three for 41, while debutant Doug Bollinger turned in an economical spell conceding just 26 in his 10 overs.
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