Economic corridor project: All Chinese workers in Pakistan to move in bullet-proof cars, says report
Pakistan and China have agreed to use bullet-proof vehicles for all outdoor movements of Chinese nationals working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in Pakistan to protect them from terrorist attacks after Beijing expressed concern over their security.
The CPEC Pakistan’s Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea with Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The $60 billion project is part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a pet project of President Xi Jinping.
According to the draft minutes of the 11th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the CPEC, both sides have also agreed to strengthen the capabilities of the law enforcement agencies and investigators, The Express Tribune reported. Incidentally, the security of Chinese workers has been a huge hurdle in the implementation of its various projects.
“It has been decided that bullet-proof vehicles shall be used for all outdoor movements of the Chinese employed on projects,” the draft read.
President Xi last week expressed “deep concern” over the security of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan on the CPEC projects and sought a “reliable and safe environment” for them in his talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his maiden visit to Beijing to bolster the all-weather friendship.
With recurring attacks on its workers, China had even asked Pakistan to let its security personnel protect Chinese nationals, according to reports.
