PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home and Tribal Affairs Department has directed the administrations of all the 25 districts to provide details about the foreigners working on development projects there and mechanism adopted for their security.

The department has sent a letter to all the divisional commissioners and regional police officers last week, seeking details about the security audit of foreigners and expatriates working on development projects across the province.

According to the letter, the administration in the districts would provide details of the foreign-funded projects and names and nationalities of the foreign nationals in their respective areas. Sources said that the home department had sought these details in the backdrop of current security situation in the country.

Commissioners asked to furnish names of foreigners, particulars of projects

Officials told Dawn that currently around 500 foreigners had been staying in different areas of the province. They said that at least 440 foreigners were working on the development projects, while over 60 expatriates associated with different organisations, including humanitarian bodies, were also staying in the province.

The sources said that majority of the foreigners were Chinese, followed by South Koreans. The Chinese nationals have been working on Ramela and Kahal Khwar hydropower projects in Kohistan district. Contracts of these projects had been awarded to the Chinese companies.

Chinese engineers and technicians working on Dubair Khwar in Kohistan and Alai Khwar hydropower projects have left the area after completion of work.

The sources said that some 50 Chinese engineers and surveyors had recently reached Battagram district and started survey work for Gwadar-Kashgar highway project that would link the Gwadar Port with Kashgar.

The South Korean nationals have been working on Golen Gol hydropower project and Lowari tunnel project in Chitral district. Contingents of different law enforcement agencies, including army and Frontier Corps, have been deployed for the security of South Koreans working on these projects.

In its letter the home department has also directed the concerned officials to furnish details about the security personnel and names of the law enforcement agencies deployed for the protection of foreigners.

Expatriates, including diplomats, have already restricted their movement in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since long. Diplomats, expatriates associated with foreign-funded projects and relief agencies are required to get no objection certificate (NOC) from the home department through the federal interior ministry prior to visiting Peshawar and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

After the Dec 16 attack on the Army Public School, Peshawar, the security scenario has completely changed in the provincial metropolis.

The boundary walls of schools, colleges and offices of the donor and humanitarian organisations are further raised and barbed wires fixed on top of walls around these institutions to prevent militant attacks.

The home department has also asked the commissioners and police officers to submit details about guards of the private security agencies deployed on the security of project sites and foreigners.

Besides, details of weapons provided to the security personnel have also been sought immediately. Officials have been directed to take appropriate measures for the security of foreigners and remove any shortcomings in this regard.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2015

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