KARACHI, May 14: The injured Chinese engineers, who were brought from Gwadar for treatment to Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, were discharged on Thursday night.

This was stated by a Chinese official on Friday. He said that the injured, Zheng Moguang and Fang Runping, after being discharged from the hospital left for Beijing by an Air China flight on the same night.

Three Chinese engineers were killed while nine Chinese and two Pakistanis were wounded in Gwadar blast on May 3. The injured were brought to Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, for treatment. Seven out of nine injured Chinese were already discharged from the hospital.

The Chinese official pointed out that the three Chinese, who had sustained minor injuries, after getting treatment at the hospital had returned to Gwadar to resume their work.

Talking to APP here, the Consul General of China in Karachi, Sun Chun Ye, said that he would like to express his thanks on behalf of the Chinese government to the Pakistan government for its support and to Aga Khan University Hospital for its effective treatment to the patients.

He said that the blast would not have any negative impact on the construction of the deep sea port project there.

He maintained that all the Chinese engineers and technicians, working on the project, had made up their mind to continue their work with determination and complete it in accordance with the schedule.

Referring to the deep friendly ties between China and Pakistan, he pointed out that the blast would not have any negative impact on the friendship as well as partnership between the two countries.

At present, he said, around 450 Chinese engineers and technicians were working on the Gwadar Deep Sea Port project. The first phase of the project was expected to complete by December this year with a cost of 248 million dollars, he added.

Meanwhile, the China Harbour Engineering Company President Liu Huaiyuan met PIA Chairman Ahmed Saeed on Friday.

Mr Huaiyuan conveyed his thanks for the help the PIA had extended to Chinese company during the tragic incident. He expressed his gratitude to PIA for handling the dead bodies and the injured of the engineering company.

At the meeting, he presented a shield to Ahmed Saeed as a token of appreciation for PIA's cooperation.

Ahmed Saeed assured the company's president of all possible help that the PIA could give to the Chinese project in Gwadar. -APP