The security of all foreigners residing in Punjab, including Chinese citizens, has been heightened in light of the prevailing security concerns in the region.
Lahore's Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Special Protection Unit, Muntazar Mehdi, issued a directive to enforce the security advisory strictly, emphasizing that the safety of Chinese citizens, in particular, is of paramount importance. He warned that any negligence in this regard would not be tolerated.
DIG Mehdi further instructed authorities to monitor the arrival and departure of foreigners using the surveillance cameras of the Punjab Safe City Authority. In addition, he ordered the use of bulletproof vehicles for the transportation of all foreigners and directed that the Special Branch carry out search and sweeping operations along the routes they travel.
These measures come in the wake of a suspected suicide attack on a convoy of Chinese engineers in Karachi that killed three people, including two Chinese citizens, and injuring around 17 others. The injured include a Chinese engineer as well as Rangers and police personnel.
The Chinese Embassy and consulates general in Pakistan have requested Pakistan to thoroughly investigate the attack, severely punish the perpetrators, and take all necessary measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects in Pakistan.