ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday directed the police to protect Chinese nationals living in the capital, ministry officials said.

The directive was issued during a meeting chaired by Mr Iqbal, and attended by senior police and capital administration officials.

Hundreds of Chinese nationals are living in the capital, the officials said, adding that over a thousand are working on various projects in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. In addition, many are also engaged in private business.

Last month, a Chinese engineer and his co-worker went missing in Kahuta.

The minister has also ordered for software to be developed with the assistance of the PTA to curb mobile phone thefts.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2018