FAISALABAD: The Punjab government has directed the police in 10 districts to improve security arrangements at the residences of Chinese nationals and the project sites where they are working.
A survey conducted by the Home Department on April 12 last pointed out security lapses and underscored the need to improve safeguards for the protection of the Chinese nationals and their physical assets.
As many as 5,925 Chinese engineers and workers are engaged in various assignments in 10 districts; 1,741 are in Sahiwal, 1,423 in Sargodha, 610 in Lahore, 552 in Rawalpindi, 458 in Sheikhupura, 382 in Bahawalpur, 382 in Faisalabad, 292 in DG Khan, 116 in Gujranwala and 31 in Multan.
Official documents admit lapses in security and stress the need for concerted efforts to ward off threats to the security of foreign nationals living in Punjab, especially Chinese workers/engineers working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
A total of 9,056 security personnel have been deployed for the security of Chinese. They include 462 army personnel, 42 of Frontier Constabulary, 1,413 of police, 323 of Rangers, 59 of Special Branch, 302 Askari guards, 2,385 of SPU, 2,259 of departmental security and 1,811 are private security guards, according to documents.
Concluding the survey, the Punjab government says, “By and large, the security arrangements at the residences and project sites of the Chinese nationals were not found satisfactory. Given present security situation of the country and sensitivity of the matter, foolproof and stringent security arrangements for the safety of Chinese nationals should be taken.”
A police officer told Dawn that efforts were being made to beef up the security of the Chinese nationals. http://www.dawn.com/news/1254881/govt-orders-foolproof-security-of-chinese-workers
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