GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan police have appointed personnel to the Karakoram Security Force for the protection of Chinese engineers and labourers working on the Karakoram Highway expansion project in the region.

Among them are 199 foot constables, 15 drivers and 10 wireless operators on contractual basis, an official of the GB police told Dawn on Thursday.

The official said a selection committee of the GB police had approved the appointment of 224 personnel to the KSF from among 700 applicants after test and interview.

He said the appointees were retired personnel of the Pakistan Army.

The KSF was launched in 2008 to provide security to Chinese engineers and labourers working on the Karakoram Highway expansion project from Pakistan-China border to Riakot bridge in Diamer district of GB.

Work on the project got underway in 2008.

Another police officer said the GB government had decided to give permanent jobs to 338 KSF personnel in the GB police.

He said KSF has been merged with the GB police on March 20 this year. —Jamil Nagri

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2014