RAWALPINDI: Chinese expatriates involved in criminal activities will face punitive action as per the law of the land, according to an understanding reached between the Punjab home department and the Chinese consul general recently.

Pakistan has witnessed a rapid increase of Chinese nationals on its soil in recent years due to development projects and joint ventures under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Some Chinese expatriates, however, have been found involved in criminal activities such as fighting and fraud.

The matter was discussed at a joint working group meeting of the home department, which was presided over by an additional secretary and vice consul general of China.

Punjab home department, Chinese consul general reach understanding

During the session, it was decided to share details of the offences committed by the Chinese nationals in Pakistan with the Chinese consul general in Lahore through the home department.

According to a source in the police department, the Chinese consul expressed his concern over the involvement of Chinese expatriates in criminal activities.

He said that China had no objection if legal action was taken against their nationals found involved in criminal activities provided the action was on merit and as per the law of the land.

When contacted, a senior police official of special protection unit said that no major offence committed by Chinese nationals working on development projects in his jurisdiction had come into his notice so far. However, he said, minor offences like over-drinking was common.

The police official said that whenever a Chinese national was caught drunk, he was shifted to hospital and brought back after he sobered up.

“If anybody from the Chinese nationals working on our projects commits any offence, they would be treated according to the law of the land,” he said, adding that the law was not limited to the Chinese only and all other foreigners would be treated the same way.

In March, two Chinese nationals were arrested by a Pakistani law enforcement agency for ATM skimming fraud.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2017