Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday presided over a high-level meeting to assess and strengthen the security arrangements for Chinese nationals residing and working in Pakistan, particularly in the federal capital, Islamabad. The meeting was held in response to increasing collaboration under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and growing concerns regarding security threats.
Prime Minister Shehbaz underscored the government’s firm commitment to ensuring the safety of Chinese citizens in Pakistan. He announced that multiple initiatives are being implemented to bolster security, notably the expansion of the Safe City infrastructure across various regions.
“China is a time-tested friend and a brotherly country with whom Pakistan shares deep-rooted and people-focused ties,” the premier said. “We are fully dedicated to providing a secure and enabling environment to our Chinese partners, whose role is essential to Pakistan’s economic progress.”
Highlighting the transition of CPEC into its second phase—focused on business-to-business collaboration—the Prime Minister stressed that securing Chinese professionals has become even more crucial. He directed authorities to prioritize measures at all entry points, particularly airports, to ensure seamless facilitation of Chinese citizens.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister was briefed that robust security measures are already active in view of possible terrorist threats. It was noted that federal and provincial governments are coordinating closely, and Chinese nationals are being provided special escort services for their movements.
Officials also shared that Safe City projects are being developed nationwide, and all new residential complexes will include modern surveillance systems in line with global standards.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and other top officials were present in the meeting.
