Pakistan restricts movement of Chinese nationals to only travel in armoured vehicles

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has taken strict measures to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals within the province by prohibiting them from traveling without armored vehicles. This decision comes in the wake of a recent attack on a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a dam project in northwest Pakistan, which resulted in the tragic deaths of six individuals.

Hazara range deputy inspector general (DIG) of police Tahir Ayub Khan emphasized the importance of these security measures in an interview with Dawn News. He stated that Chinese nationals should not travel in the province without armored vehicles as per the government’s directives.

The heightened security concerns have prompted authorities to implement additional safety measures, including restricting Chinese nationals to their hotels and requiring projects to use bulletproof vehicles. The police have also emphasized the need to protect Chinese nationals involved in non-China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

Tahir Ayub Khan, along with District Police Officer Shafeeullah Gandapur, visited the sites of the Suki Kinari and Balakot hydropower projects to discuss security arrangements. They held security meetings with security personnel, Chinese engineers, and project managers to ensure the safety of all individuals involved in these projects.

The security personnel will be responsible for safeguarding the Chinese engineers at all costs, with plans to fortify residential colonies with eight-foot-high boundary walls and possibly barbed wire. Tahir Ayub Khan’s proactive approach to security measures underscores the government’s commitment to minimizing risks and protecting foreign nationals in the region.