Chinese nationals granted VVIP status in Pakistan

Islamabad: Pakistani federal and Punjab provincial governments have granted VVIP status to Chinese nationals working in Pakistan on various projects.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed all the security agencies to ensure fool-proof VVIP security arrangements for the Chinese nationals working on various projects in Pakistan.

Chairing a high-level meeting here, the prime minister said he had decided to personally review the meetings with respect to the overall security of the country especially the security of the Chinese citizens.

The PM directed the interior ministry to increase collaboration with the provinces to further improve the provincial anti-terrorism departments.

He also instructed to chalk out a comprehensive strategy for the regular audit of the security Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

The interior ministry briefed the Prime Minister in detail about the overall law and order situation of the country and the performance of the ministry.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Naqvi, top brass of the security agencies and the concerned high officials.

In Lahore on Friday afternoon, the Punjab Apex Committee, in its inaugural session, approved the extension of VVIP security for Chinese nationals engaged in development projects across Punjab to ensure their complete protection.

During the session chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Apex Committee passed a resolution to enhance security for Chinese nationals involved in development projects across Punjab.

Addressing the committee participants, the Chief Minister underscored the necessity for collective action, affirming that every conceivable measure would be undertaken to combat terrorism.

CM Maryam Nawaz emphasised the imperative to reactivate the National Action Plan (NAP) and commended its implementation.

Highlighting the transformative potential of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project for the region, the chief minister decried the project’s susceptibility to targeting, lamenting the tendency for Pakistan’s discourse to lag behind.