Foreign delegates get security cover

Thorough security survey has led to deployment of significant police presence

RAWALPINDI:

After a detailed security survey, the Islamabad administration has provided foolproof security to 49 Chinese citizens in the federal capital.

A decision was made to provide complete security cover, along with a police squad, to foreign delegations, especially Chinese nationals, arriving at New Islamabad Airport to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

All arrangements have been finalised and a special security plan has been developed to secure the Chinese nationals. Two Superintendents of Police (SPs), four Deputy Superintendents of Police (SDPOs), five Station House Officers (SHOs), and 155 police officers and personnel will be deployed in shifts to ensure security.

Following the targeted attacks on Chinese engineers in Karachi, a fresh security survey was conducted under the orders of Rawalpindi City Police Officer Khalid Hamdani to ensure the safety of Chinese experts and residents in Rawalpindi.

Based on the findings of the security survey, the CPO developed a separate security plan to further enhance the safety of Chinese experts and residents.

The survey reveals that a total of 49 Chinese nationals reside in Rawalpindi. They include 14 in the Airport police station area, three in the Nasirabad police area, two each in the Rawat and Taxila police stations area, and one Chinese in the Cantonment area.

Since the SCO meeting is also approaching with the arrival of foreign delegations, including Chinese nationals, strict measures have been put in place to ensure the security of all foreigners, especially Chinese residents.

Police officers and personnel will be assigned duties in shifts under the supervision of supervisory officers, and strict adherence to this plan will be enforced, with supervisory officers personally checking shift-wise duties.

Additionally, a separate security plan has been issued to guarantee the safety of Chinese delegations and residents arriving in Pakistan via flights landing at New Islamabad International Airport.

The plan specifies that Chinese delegations and nationals arrive daily on flights from China and other countries; therefore, it has been decided to provide them with complete security cover from the airport to the Old Toll Plaza.

For this purpose, the supervision has been assigned to the Potohar SP who will lead the DSP Cantt, a formation of Muhafiz Force and Dolphin Force, and a section of the Elite Force at the airport.

They will coordinate with the relevant authorities of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) deployed at the airport to ensure the Chinese delegations are provided with security coverage by a squad and ensure they reach their destination safely within the district's limits.

A senior officer told The Express Tribune that stringent orders had been issued to ensure the security of all foreigners, particularly Chinese experts and residents, saying there would be no compromise on the matter.