The Punjab government has decided to purchase new bullet-proof vehicles for the security of Chinese nationals.
As per the details. a summary seeking funds for vehicle procurement has been dispatched to the finance department.
On Sunday, two Chinese engineers were killed in what was described as a “terrorist attack” near the Karachi airport on Sunday night. The attack was claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group Islamabad says is actively working to sabotage the multi-billion dollar CPEC project
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his government “stands committed to safeguarding our Chinese friends” in the wake of the attack. “We will leave no stone unturned to ensure their security and well-being,” the premier wrote in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
In their separate statements, the Chinese Embassy and Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs both condemned the attack with Chinese officials noting they had been actively working with Pakistani authorities in the aftermath.
“We extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims, both Chinese and Pakistani,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. “We also offer prayers for the swift recovery of the injured.”
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment, the ministry stated, “Pakistan and China are iron-brothers, united by a bond of mutual respect and shared destiny.” The government reassured that the safety of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan remains a top priority.
Pakistan is set to host a high-level Shanghai Cooperation Organisaton (SCO) summit next week in Islamabad, which has been marred by protests from supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its allies in the past few weeks.
Click here to know about Islamabad traffic plan ahead of SCO summit.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang and India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar both are scheduled to attend the October 15-16 summit.
