The Finance Ministry has clarified that the two Chinese engineers who tragically lost their lives in a terrorist attack in Karachi on Sunday night were not involved in discussions related to independent power producers (IPPs) with the government.
This clarification was issued following a statement made by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb during a televised address. In the address, the minister mentioned that he and Minister Awais Leghari had been in talks with IPP engineers to negotiate debt restructuring to reduce tariffs.
The Finance Ministry’s statement today, however, emphasized that while negotiations with IPPs are ongoing, the engineers who were killed in the explosion were not part of those talks. The Ministry stressed that any reports suggesting otherwise are inaccurate.
The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan confirmed the identities of the two engineers as staff members of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company (Private) Limited. The embassy also reported that a third Chinese national was injured, along with several locals.
On Sunday night, a powerful explosion occurred near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, killing three people, including the two Chinese engineers, and injuring at least 11 others. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to bring those responsible for the attack to justice, stating that protecting Chinese nationals in Pakistan is a top priority. He also stressed that the attack would not harm the strong relationship between Pakistan and China.
Finance Minister Aurangzeb extended his condolences to the families of the victims and expressed hope that ongoing discussions with the Chinese government would continue to progress smoothly. He highlighted the valuable role that Chinese companies have played in supporting Pakistan’s energy sector and reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering a “win-win” situation for both countries.
In response to the attack, security measures have been enhanced for Chinese nationals and other foreign workers in cities like Rawalpindi, particularly those involved in development projects and business activities.
The Pakistani government remains committed to ensuring the safety of all foreign nationals and strengthening ties with China amidst these challenging circumstances.
