According to the Gilgit-Baltistan government, efforts are being made to ensure full security for Chinese employees working on the mega project Diamer Bhasha Dam.
According to the Gilgit-Baltistan government, efforts are being made to ensure full security for Chinese employees working on the mega project Diamer Bhasha Dam.
Following the recent attack on Chinese nationals in Karachi, their security is being re-evaluated and enhanced across Pakistan.
In this regard, the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan has set up a 24-hour Foreigners Security Cell in the Home Department of Gilgit-Baltistan for better coordination with regard to the security of Chinese residents working in the area.
According to a statement issued by the Gilgit-Baltistan Information Department, efforts are being made to ensure full security for Chinese employees and laborers working on the country’s historic mega project Diamer Bhasha Dam.
According to the statement, the residences and offices of Chinese residents have been inspected by DCs and SPs in their respective districts and instructions have been issued to all concerned to abide by the NICTA policy and other rules and regulations. Strict action will be taken against the violators in case of violation.
Vehicles and other equipment have already been provided in the past with the help of the Chinese government to improve security in the region.
The government of Pakistan does not disclose the total number of Chinese nationals in Gilgit-Baltistan and throughout Pakistan due to security concerns, but in 2019, sources in the Foreign Ministry revealed that 91,000 Chinese nationals visited Pakistan in one year at that time.
A senior immigration officer said visas for 32,000 Chinese were extended in 2018-19.
This number is 41% higher than 17 – 2016. According to the 2019 report of the Bureau of Statistics, a total of 31,000 Chinese are permanently residing in Pakistan. Who are employed in various companies and doing personal business. That number is thought to have risen sharply in recent years.
But the presence of more Chinese residents also adds to their security concerns. Three Chinese were killed in a suicide attack by a banned Baloch group in Karachi recently. He has been targeted in northern areas like Kohistan before.
A bus carrying engineers working on the Dasu hydropower project was hit in July last year, killing 12 people, including nine Chinese nationals.
The Dasu Hydel Power Project is being built on the Indus River in the Dasu area of Kohistan, which will generate 4,320 MW of electricity. The construction contract for the project is with a Chinese company, while the consultants for the project include a Turkish company.
Work on the project began in 2017 and is expected to be completed in 2023.
Pakistani Taliban have also attacked and targeted foreign climbers in northern Pakistan. Baloch insurgents and the Pakistani Taliban have been expressing their intentions to harm Chinese interests.
The Gilgit-Baltistan government has also instructed all stakeholders in the latest order to rectify all the shortcomings as per the policy. That is, the height of boundary walls, deployment of security guards at residences, installation of cameras, etc. have been reviewed. The control room is equipped with telephone landline and fax number. Which is available to all district and divisional administrations for immediate response.
According to details, the Gilgit-Baltistan government has formally initiated practical measures to review the security arrangements of Chinese campuses and hotels in different districts to ensure the safety of Chinese residents in the region.
The Deputy Commissioners of Skardu, Hunza and Diamer on the direction of Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan paid a special visit to the Chinese campuses and hotels at various places and reviewed the security arrangements in detail.
Authorities say the security of Chinese citizens is the first responsibility of the government of Pakistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to the statement, Deputy Commissioner Diamer Fayyaz Ahmed also visited Shang Nala Chinese Camp and reviewed the security arrangements. He directed the installation of as many standard cameras as possible in the Chinese camp.
Deputy Commissioner Diamer met with Chinese employees and officials at the Shang Nala Chinese Camp and briefed them on important security issues.
On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Diamer said that Diamer Bhasha Dam is a mega project in the history of the country and full security is being provided to the Chinese employees and workers working on this project.
Attacks on Chinese residents have apparently forced the Pakistani government to further improve their security.
