News Desk
LAHORE: As the country witnessed an increase in terrorism incidents in the recent weeks, the Punjab Home Department has directed the Chinese nationals living in the province or working with private companies to hire private security companies of A-Category, for their security.
The police and Punjab Home Department held a meeting on Thursday to review the security of Chinese nationals working on government and private projects in the province. The Punjab government had, in 2014, established the Special Protection Unit as a dedicated unit for the security of foreigners working at different projects of national importance. As many as 3,336 security constables, 244 former army personnel in the rank of senior security constable to chief security officer and seven former army officers in the rank of additional director and deputy director were recruited in the Unit.
Keeping in view the job requirement, the personnel were imparted six months rigorous training at four police training schools. Presently, 3,829 personnel of the SPU along with 2,552 attached personnel from Punjab districts are providing security to 7,567 Chinese working at four CPEC and 27 non-CPEC projects in the province. They are also providing security to the Chinese residing at 70 residences and 24 camps in the province.
SPU security only for CPEC, govt projects
Agha Yousuf, SPU DIG said that due to an increase in terror incidents in the country, the security of the Chinese officials working on government projects had been beefed up further. He said the Unit was deployed for the security of the Chinese nationals working only on the CPEC and other government-related projects adding that the Chinese nationals working with private projects or visiting the country on their own were directed to hire security companies for their security.
He said there were hundreds of Chinese nationals who were working with private companies and steps were being taken to ensure their security. He said the Chinese nationals running their personal business or working with private companies would have to hire their own security and the home department would evaluate the company.
