Daily Times

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the projects launched under CPEC are the most important in terms of prosperity of the country, particularly of Sindh, where projects and the crew are being provided appropriate security.

He said this while presiding over a meeting on Security of CPEC projects launched in Sindh. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, Major General Abid Rafiq head of Special Security Division (SSD) created for security of CPEC related projects and the crew working there, IG AD Khowaja, Secretary Home Shahid Parvaiz Qazi, Lt Col Nisar Ahmed, Lt Col Fawad and others.

The chief minister said that presently 13 CPEC related projects have either been started or being taken up. “All these projects have national importance, therefore Sindh government has created a separate police force for their security,” he said and added that that’s why he keeps holding review meetings off and on.

The IG police said that out of 2000 CPEC security force, he has hired 1023 ex- army men to provide security to the projects and the Chinese working there.

The SSD head, Maj Gen Abid Rafiq told the participants of the meeting that the Chinese were working at 424 different projects, CPEC and non-CPEC, their security is most important. On this the chief minister said that the Chinese working in Sindh are being provided Security, The police have provide them with security advisories through private companies and diplomatic missions.

It was also pointed out that Chinese were working in 72 different companies. The companies have also been taken into confidence to take necessary measure for their security.

IG police AD Khowaja said that on the new instructions of Sindh Chief Minister he has recruited 16000 policemen purely on merit and 10,000 of them have been provided special trainings by Pakistan Army. They are also a good force.

The Chief Minister said that in some of CPEC projects, residential colonies and villages are being affected but the affected people would be given compensation. ” In Thar not only compensation has been given but a model village was being built to provide affected people with homes, health and educational facilities.”

Talking about Karachi Circular Railway, the chief minister said that some people have constructed katcha and pacca houses along the route. He added that his government would give compensation to those affected who are holding old settlements.

The chief minister decided to establish close coordination between SSD and Sindh police for proper security arrangements.