Pakistan agrees with China’s approach of linking development with security, says Naqvi

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday assured Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong that Islamabad was fully on board with Beijing’s approach of combining development with security.

“We fully agree with the Chinese approach of combining development with security, and we will ensure safety of Chinese nationals and projects as a top priority,” said Naqvi while expressing solidarity with Ambassador Zaidong over an incident which saw two Chinese nationals being injured after being shot at by a security guard at a textile mill in Karachi. During the meeting at the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, the security czar highlighted that Pakistan places the utmost priority on well-being and security of Chinese citizens, particularly those working on projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The minister also briefed Ambassador Jiang on the incident’s details, assured him of a swift, transparent investigation and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring justice and enhancing security for Chinese citizens in the country.

Addressing concerns surrounding the security of CPEC projects, Naqvi affirmed that Pakistan is taking “all possible measures” to protect Chinese citizens and assets linked to CPEC. He revealed that additional security protocols were being implemented to create a safe and stable environment, especially in regions where Chinese nationals reside or work.

Security forces were actively working to bolster protective measures, particularly in Karachi, to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, Naqvi noted.