Naqvi meets Chinese envoy amid shooting of Chinese nationals in Karachi; Agreeing on a joint security strategy
Special correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has assured China of Pakistan’s commitment to the safety of its citizens and projects following the recent shooting incident involving two Chinese workers in Karachi. Naqvi made the remarks during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zedong, who expressed concerns about the security of Chinese citizens. The incident, which occurred at Liberty Textile Mills in the SITE Industrial Park, involved a security guard who opened fire on two Chinese employees before fleeing the scene.
Both victims received immediate medical attention, and police filed terrorism charges against the escaped guard, who had been working at the factory for about five months. Minister Naqvi expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with the affected families and promised a strict investigation. The two officials agreed to strengthen security protocols and develop a joint strategy to prevent similar events in the future.
Minister Naqvi highlighted the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens working in CPEC projects, stressing the strong “iron brotherhood” between Pakistan and China. Ambassador Jiang also praised the security measures taken during the recent visit of the Chinese Prime Minister to Pakistan.
NNI adds: Meanwhile, Pakistan and China agreed on Thursday to develop a joint security strategy, following the incident in which two Chinese nationals were injured by gunshots in an attack by a security guard at a factory in Karachi, an official statement said.
The understanding came when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zedong to discuss the situation and Pakistan’s response to the increasing security risks faced by Chinese citizens.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office after the meeting, “We fully agree with China’s vision of integrating development and security.”
“The safety and security of Chinese nationals working on various projects in the country, including those related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been a top priority for the government of Pakistan and all those involved in terrorist acts against the neighboring country.” The Minister of Interior said that the citizens will be brought to justice.
The minister expressed shock over the incident in which two Chinese nationals were injured as a result of gunfire by a guard in Karachi. He expressed his sympathy to the families of the injured and informed the envoy of the progress made in the investigation into the incident so far. He also called for the speedy recovery of the injured.
He went on to say that Pakistan and China are time-tested friends. “The government is taking steps to enhance the security of Chinese citizens so that they can work in a safe and secure environment,” Naqvi said.
The Interior Ministry statement said that the officials “agreed to develop a joint strategy to prevent such incidents in the future.”
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Jiang also stressed the need for a stable environment for continued bilateral cooperation and expressed his country’s readiness to strengthen bilateral security relations.
“China is ready to enhance bilateral security cooperation and build the capabilities of Pakistani institutions,” he added.
The envoy said that thanks to joint efforts, the Pak-China friendship is strengthening day by day.
“China is ready to increase cooperation between the two countries in the field of security and enhance the capacity of Pakistani law enforcement agencies,” the ambassador said.
The Ambassador expressed his thanks to the Minister of Interior for the excellent arrangements he made during the recent visit of the Chinese Premier to Pakistan.
He also inquired about the health of President Asif Ali Zardari and expressed his good wishes for a speedy recovery. The ambassador also said that Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote a letter to President Asif Ali Zardari, expressing his good wishes for health.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Interior and senior officials of the Chinese Embassy.
The attacks on Chinese citizens have put bilateral relations under increasing pressure, with the Chinese envoy previously publicly describing such incidents as “unacceptable”.
Thousands of Chinese nationals work in Pakistan, primarily as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the multi-billion-dollar energy, infrastructure development and regional connectivity initiative.
Chinese workers have come under increasing attacks in Pakistan in recent years, with notable incidents including a suicide bombing in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that killed five Chinese engineers in March 2024, and an October bombing near Karachi airport that killed two other Chinese nationals.
The latest shooting incident occurred earlier this week, when a Pakistani security guard opened fire at a factory in Karachi, wounding two Chinese employees.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally visited the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday to offer condolences to the families of the Chinese who were injured in the recent shooting incident.
