China to empower south Punjab people

LAHORE: In order to curb the poverty and the extremist tendencies among the marginalized communities and regions such as that of South Punjab, People’s Republic of China has chalked out a concrete plan to help get the out of school children educated in this neglected part of the biggest province of Pakistan by implementing more targeted “small yet beautiful” projects for livelihood enhancement in the region.

Highly placed Chinese diplomatic sources confided to The News that comprehensive, practical strategies were now in place to combat terrorism for which purpose revised security SOPs have been issued after thorough deliberations among Chinese officials and Pakistan’s Interior Minister. As per these SOPs, it has been mutually agreed that after proper security audit of Chinese projects inside Pakistan, by District Intelligence Coordination Committees, that are working on this assignment on a regular basis, evaluation would be carried out to identify the areas where threat is of mild or extreme nature. Where threat is of high risk and of an extreme nature, bullet-proof vehicles will be used for the transportation of Chinese people placed in Pakistan.

Sources further informed The News that China was not at all sitting idle as it was giving every assistance to Pakistan to flush out and eliminate terrorists through precision intelligence sharing and all the necessary measures. In this connection, security system has started working in full swing. Regarding the recent wave of terrorism, the sources said that it is clear that hostile foreign agencies were behind these occurrences. Even BLA and other extremist outfits operating inside Pakistan were supported from one side, or the other ,externally ,further complicating the security situation in Pakistan.

The sources commended the proactive role, cooperation and collaboration extended in this context by Government of Pakistan, especially by the Minister and Secretary of Interior Ministry, Mohsin Naqvi and Khurram Agha, respectively. As such, the Chinese government was generally satisfied with the security measures undertaken by the Pakistan’s security forces whom Beijing trusts, considering the services rendered by them as highly appreciable. They were tasked to carry on with enhanced efficiency, precision and effectiveness in maintaining law and order situation.

As regards the refuge enjoyed by terrorist elements inside Afghanistan, the sources said the matter was being pursued properly by China with Afghanistan, both bilaterally and internationally. Bilaterally, the Beijing government did take it up with the Taliban government at Kabul. At the same time, Doha Accord was also kept in view. At this juncture, The News was further informed that although some kind of cooperation was going on between China and Afghanistan, the former had not yet officially and fully recognized the Afghanistan Interim government where women and girls’ rights are not inclusively ensured.

As for the Gwadar Airport, the sources disclosed that it was a grant from China, the total cost of the project being 246 million US Dollars.