The Chinese nationals who tragically lost their lives in a terrorist attack near Karachi airport on Sunday were in the midst of critical negotiations with the Pakistani government regarding Independent Power Producers (IPPs), a senior government official disclosed on Tuesday.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb revealed that the deceased were engineers involved in discussions aimed at restructuring debt terms for IPPs. “We were working with them to re-profile debt and extend maturities to help Pakistan reduce power tariffs and provide relief to the public,” Aurangzeb stated during a press briefing. He added that he, alongside Power Minister Awais Leghari, had been leading the talks. “This was a Chinese IPP committed to forging a win-win partnership with Pakistan, and their senior management had even flown in from Beijing to expedite the process.”
The attack, which claimed the lives of these key stakeholders, has sent shockwaves through both Pakistan and China. In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident, vowing to enhance the security of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan. “We will make sure they are untouchable,” said the premier, emphasising that a secure environment is essential for attracting foreign investment.
Sharif also took the opportunity to criticise the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), for their latest wave of protests, which have crippled major cities such as Islamabad and Lahore. He likened the current situation to the 2014 PTI sit-in, which had resulted in the postponement of a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping. “We will not allow history to repeat itself. We are committed to safeguarding our international partnerships and stabilizing the economy,” the prime minister declared during a federal cabinet meeting.
The protests, which have disrupted daily life across the country, were condemned by Finance Minister Aurangzeb, who highlighted the severe economic repercussions of political unrest. “The Ministry of Finance’s Economic Wing estimates that a single day of strikes can lead to losses amounting to Rs190 billion,” Aurangzeb stated, further elaborating on the broader social impact, including disrupted healthcare services and the livelihoods of daily wage workers.
He warned that the PTI’s actions could derail the government’s efforts to manage critical foreign relations, particularly ahead of an upcoming visit by the Chinese premier and a high-profile Saudi delegation. “We are at a critical juncture. At a time when we are working tirelessly to bring stability, certain elements are intent on creating chaos,” said the finance minister.