The Special Branch report had expressed concern that it would be easy for militants to storm a workplace and kidnap Chinese workers. PHOTO:FILE
Companies based in the division and employing Chinese nationals have been instructed to beef up security, after a Special Branch report highlighted various weak links.
There are 38 factories and offices based in Lahore, four in Sheikhupura and two in Kasur that employ Chinese nationals. At a meeting called by Lahore Commissioner Imdadullah Bosal on Monday, representatives of 14 of these companies were instructed to take several security measures to ensure their foreign employees’ safety. Officials said that such meetings to review security for foreigners in Lahore were held every 3-5 months.
The security measures the companies were instructed to take include placing barriers at the roads leading to the entrances to their offices or factories, raising boundary walls, and installing CCTV cameras and walkthrough gates. The commissioner also instructed them to arrange for private guards. They have already been provided police guards.
The Special Branch report had expressed concern that it would be easy for militants to storm a workplace and kidnap Chinese workers. The Punjab government, upon receiving the report, had instructed the district government to ensure the safety of the Chinese nationals in Lahore division.
Several of the company representatives complained that their Chinese employees were refusing security escorts. The commissioner responded that their security was the state’s responsibility and they must accept safety measures whether they liked them or not.
The city government is to establish a desk for the registration of Chinese nationals living in the city.
Bosal told The Express Tribune that both the companies and the government would make sure that the Chinese workers are protected. He said that since these were commercial ventures, they would bear the cost of the security measures. He said that the district administration would continue to monitor the security situation.
The next meeting to review compliance will be held in October, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2013.
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First of all, why are these companies and factories even giving these jobs to Chinese workers? Their own country is quite prosperous, so they shouldn't be competing with Pakistanis in our own country. If Pakistan was a rich country, it would make sense to import foreign workers, but considering that a huge portion of our population can't even afford basic necessities, this news doesn't make any sense.