Following the recent wave of terrorism in the country, the Punjab government has approved the purchase of 37 bulletproof vehicles for the security of Chinese engineers and officials involved in various projects in the province.
According to the 24News HD TV channel, the Punjab government's approval covered vehicles for projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), non-CPEC projects, private non-CPEC projects, and permanent installations.
According to officials, out of the approved vehicles, 11 bulletproof vehicles will be allocated for CPEC projects in Punjab while the remaining bulletproof vehicles will be purchased for Chinese engineers working on other projects in the province.
For the non-CPEC government projects, 12 bulletproof vehicles have been approved. Meanwhile, 11 bulletproof vehicles have been sanctioned for Chinese personnel working on private non-CPEC projects, and 3 bulletproof vehicles for permanent installations related to CPEC.
It's worth noting that 18 bombproof vehicles are already available for the security of Chinese officials and an additional 16 bombproof vehicles are required for the 43 residential areas allocated for Chinese personnel.
The officials confirmed that a comprehensive audit of transportation and security for Chinese nationals has been conducted from January 1 to March 31 to ensure their safety.
It is also worth mentioning that Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab) has recently inked an important contract with China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) for the establishment of the Nawaz Sharif Information Technology City at the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) project in Lahore.
Nawaz Sharif IT City project with Rs10 billion allocated as seed money spans 853 acres near the Pakistan Kidney & Liver Institute and Research Centre (PKLI). The project will have four segments: IT & Tech District, Education City, Film City, and Commercial or Residential.The initial phase includes constructing the Celestia twin-tower IT building, expected in 12 months. Nespak and an international consultant will ensure meticulous planning.
China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), a core subsidiary of SINOMACH, is among the world’s top 500 companies.
Founded in 1978, CMEC is China’s first engineering & trade company. Through over 40 years of development, CMEC has become an international corporation with engineering contracting and industrial development as its core divisions. It has been underpinned by a full industry chain of trade, design, survey, logistics, research and development. It has offered “one-stop” customized solutions for integrated regional development and various types of engineering projects, covering pre-planning, design, investment, financing, construction, operation and maintenance.
Regarding engineering construction, trade and services, CMEC has found its presence in 160-odd countries and regions. It has built batches of high-quality projects involving energy, water, environmental protection, agricultural cooperation, infrastructure, transportation facilities, industrial engineering, and communications in nearly 60 countries and regions including China, in particular along the Belt and Road routes.
Since 2014, President Xi Jinping has witnessed the signing or commencement of multiple CMEC overseas projects, including the Maldivian housing project, Sri Lanka Puttalam Coal-fired Power Plant, Serbia’s waste-to-electricity and wastewater treatment projects, and Argentina Belgrano Railway Reconstruction.
Reporter: Irfan Malik