ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: The government has increased the ‘invisible security’ for Chinese nationals working in the country after it received information from intelligence agencies that they can be targeted by terrorists during the forthcoming visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao, official sources told Dawn on Friday.

The interior ministry has directed security departments to provide foolproof security cover to Chinese nationals. It asked them to provide complete information about Chinese people staying in the country.

According to a report presented in a security meeting in Islamabad, some 475 Chinese nationals are residing in the capital.

The meeting was informed that incidents of attacks on Chinese nationals increased whenever any Chinese dignitary visited Pakistan and vice versa. Therefore, the security cover provided to Chinese people should be strengthened on the visit of the Chinese president, who is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on Nov 23.

The sources said that under the invisible security cover, movement and activities of Chinese nationals were being monitored.

The intelligence agencies informed the government that Chinese nationals had been provided private security guards in their offices and recreational places.

However, it recommended police security arrangements in those places on weekends.