Fourth JWG meeting on Chinese workers’ security held

ISLAMABAD: The fourth joint working group (JWG) meeting on security and safety of Chinese working on CPEC projects was held here on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by Chinese delegation headed by Cao Xiaolin, Deputy Director General of the Department of External Security Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and Pakistani delegation which was headed by Additional Secretary Ministry of Interior, Farah Hamid Khan.

Traditionally, Joint working group on security and safety of Chinese working on CPEC projects are hosted by Pakistan and China alternatively.

In the meeting, Additional Secretary Interior reiterated the strong resolve of the government of Pakistan to provide foolproof security to Chinese nationals working on the CPEC projects.

Chinese delegation was apprised that the comprehensive security framework encompassing the active participation of armed forces, civil armed forces and law enforcement agencies has been formulated.

Officials of Interior Ministry also stated in the meeting that an SOP (Standing Operating Procedures) review committee on security protocol for protection of Chinese working on CPEC projects has been constituted.

The Chinese delegation was also informed that on the directions of Interior Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal, meetings with the officials from the CPEC contractors are held monthly in order to identify and discuss issues relating to workplace and implementation of SOPs.

In his remarks, Cao Xiaolin, Deputy Director General of the Department of External Security Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China appreciated the measures put in place by the government of Pakistan for CPEC security and expressed the hope that Pakistan’s security model for CPEC projects can be a role model for One Belt One Road Projects for other countries.