Pakistan spends 99.8 million dollars for Chinese nationals’ security

By APD writer Muhammad Sohail

ISLAMABAD, May 27 (APD) -- The government of Pakistan has spent Rs. 10.387 billion (99.8 million U.S. dollars) for raising a special security force for Chinese nationals working on various projects across the country during the period of July2016 to May2017, an official document revealed on Saturday.

The amount was spent for raising Special Security Division (SSD) for Chinese working in Pakistan, especially on different projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The expenditure was not covered in Pakistan’s original budget of last fiscal year July2016-June2017; therefore, the sum was charged upon from the supplementary grants by the federal government.

The Ministry of Defense of Pakistan also expended another amount of 1.38 million U.S. dollars for capacity building of the SSD, a division of Pakistan army commanded by a serving Major General.

In the upcoming fiscal year July2017-June2018, Pakistan gov’t has also allocated an amount of 17.31 million U.S. dollars for the security of the CPEC.

According to a government official, Pakistan has deployed at least 13,731 security personnel for the security for Chinese workers and different projects under the CPEC, a fast progressing multibillion U.S dollars flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

SSD, comprising nine army composite battalions with 9,229 personnel and six civil armed forces wings consisting 4,502 personnel, was raised for the special task.

All the Provincial governments and Para-Military institutions of the country are working in collaboration to make the security of Chinese nationals foolproof.

A number of projects, including energy projects, road and railway infrastructure, Gwadar Port and Industrial Parks, are being constructed under the China-funded CPEC across Pakistan.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)