MANSEHRA: The police on Sunday beefed up the security for Chinese nationals working on the Suki Kinari and Balakot hydropower projects here.

“We have provided multi-layered security to Chinese engineers and workers executing two hydropower projects on the Kunhar River in Kaghan Valley and its downstream areas,” district police officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur told reporters.

The DPO, who visited the 880-megawatt Suki Kinari Hydropower Project, and the 1,000-megawatt Balakot Hydropower Project to review security arrangements, directed the authorities to further enhance deployment.

“The Chinese engineers and workers have been making a significant contribution in addressing the country’s energy shortfall, and we appreciate their efforts by ensuring foolproof security for them,” Mr Gandapur said.

He also instructed security personnel to strictly restrict unauthorised individuals from entering project sites.

“The movement of foreign nationals within the project premises and from camps to work sites must be under strict security protocols,” he said.

The DPO also held separate meetings with security officers and Chinese engineers to discuss security arrangements, assuring them that all necessary measures were being taken to ensure their safety.

“We have also launched search and strike operations in the mountainous areas of Balakot to prevent strangers from settling near these projects,” he added.

The project directors of both the hydropower projects expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2025