KARACHI: The inspector-general of police in Pakistan’s Sindh this week reviewed security measures for Chinese nationals in the province, a statement from police said, amid Pakistan’s push to enhance protection for foreigners in the country.
China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan but both separatist and religiously motivated militants have attacked Chinese projects in recent years, killing Chinese personnel.
The most recent attack targeting Chinese nationals took place in March when five Chinese workers were killed in a suicide bombing while they were on their way to a hydropower project funded by Beijing and being built in Dasu in the country’s northwest.
Pakistan has since then vowed to enhance the security of Chinese nationals in the country.
“Under the chairmanship of IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon, measures regarding the security of Chinese residents, experts and staff involved with various government projects and multinational companies were reviewed and further instructions were issued,” a statement issued by Sindh Police said on Tuesday.
Memon told police officials it is the responsibility of the police’s Special Protection Unit to provide foolproof security to Chinese nationals in Karachi.
“He said relevant units and departments will ensure measures such as supplying additional personnel to the Special Protection Unit as soon as possible,” the statement said.
The March blast was the third major attack in a little over a week on China’s interests in the South Asian nation, where Beijing has invested more than $65 billion in infrastructure, energy and other projects as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
China has repeatedly called on Pakistan to ensure its nationals in the South Asian country are kept safe from militant attacks.
Sindh’s top cop reviews security measures for Chinese nationals in province
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Sindh’s top cop reviews security measures for Chinese nationals in province
- Separatist, religiously motivated militants have attacked Chinese projects in Pakistan in recent years
- Special Protection Unit responsible for security of Chinese nationals in Karachi, says Sindh’s top cop
Sindh cabinet approves compensation for Gul Plaza victims after deadly Karachi fire
- Over 70 people were killed in one of Karachi’s worst fires, which took three days to extinguish
- Deadly blazes have become frequent in the city amid weak fire safety, limited response capacity
ISLAMABAD: The Sindh cabinet on Tuesday approved a major relief and rehabilitation package for victims of the Gul Plaza fire, one of Karachi’s deadliest blazes, which killed more than 70 people and took three days to bring under control earlier this month.
The decision comes weeks after the fire ripped through the multi-story commercial building in the city’s Saddar area, trapping workers and traders as flames spread rapidly through the structure, exposing severe gaps in fire safety enforcement and emergency response.
Under the cabinet-approved package, families of those who died will receive Rs10 million ($35,800) each in compensation, while affected shopkeepers will be provided interest-free loans of Rs10 million per unit, with the provincial government bearing the cost of interest.
An additional Rs500,000 ($1,790) per shopkeeper has been approved as immediate subsistence support.
“There can be no compromise on human life,” Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said during the cabinet meeting, adding that the government’s priority was to support affected families while ensuring accountability.
“Relief, justice and prevention must go hand in hand,” he added.
The cabinet also constituted a high-level subcommittee, headed by the chief minister, to review the findings of an inquiry committee tasked with determining responsibility for the incident and recommending further action.
Fires have become an increasingly frequent occurrence in Karachi, a megacity of more than 20 million people, where fire services remain severely overstretched and under-resourced relative to population density and the scale of commercial activity.
Successive deadly incidents have drawn criticism of the Sindh administration over lax enforcement of building codes, inadequate inspections and limited emergency response capacity.
