Pakistan raises Special Security Division successfully

CPEC security

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has successfully raised a Special Security Division (SSD) to ensure four-layer security of around 15,000 foreigners working on around 3,000-km-long trade route that will connect the Gwadar Port to China’s northwestern Xinjiang province.

“A Special Security Division consisting of nine composite infantry battalions and six civil armed forces wings has been raised at a cost of 21.57 billion,” the Ministry of Interior disclosed in an official document on Friday. The government has spent over Rs23 billion on raising this special force being commanded by Major General Abid Rafique.

China and Pakistan agreed to raise a special force to ensure foolproof security to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor’s (CPEC) sea routes and the Gwadar Port. This SSD consists of over 13,731 securitypersonnel to safeguard around 9,000 Chinese workers engaged in over 330 small and mega projects in the country. In addition, Pakistan also deployed over 30,434 security personnel for successful execution of these multi-billion dollar costly projects under the CPEC.

The government spent Rs15.8 billion on raising nine wings of SSD consisting of Pakistan Army’s components and a composite infantry battalion, revealed the official document of the Ministry of Interior submitted with the National Assembly on Friday. The government has also spent Rs5.8 billion by raising six SSD wings of civilian armed forces with the minimum strength of 4,502 security personnel in all the four provinces. The CPEC security details came in response to a written question posed by MNA Dr Shahida Rehmani of the Pakistan People’s Party.

The government has also allocated Rs1.3 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme for the purchase of security equipment, it revealed. The government raised three SSD wings of Punjab Rangers consisting of 2,190 and an SSD wing of Frontier Corps of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa consisting of 852 security personnel. Similarly, it raised a wing of FC Balochistan with strength of 730 personnel and Sindh Rangers consisting of 730 personnel.

Over 6,300 security personnel are guarding around 3,800 Chinese workers engaged in 176 small and mega projects in Punjab, interior ministry further revealed in this official document compiled on the basis of information collected from home departments of provinces as well as from the Islamabad Capital Territory. Around 2,000 security personnel have been deployed for security of over 700 Chinese engineers working on 19 projects in various districts of KP. Around 3,200 security personnel are guarding 600 Chinese workers engaged in eight projects in Balochistan. Over 2,640 armed personnel have been deputed for security of over 1,140 Chinese workers working on 103 projects in the Sindh province. Over 439 police personnel are guarding around 900 Chinese engineers working on six mega projects in the ICT and over 1,270 security personnel deputed on security of 1,700 Chinese workers engaged in around 15 projects. The administration of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) revealed that 667 security personnel are guarding 13 Chinese workers engaged in a project started years back.

Over 3,500 security personnel hired from private security companies have also been deputed for safeguarding foreigners working on various projects being executed in all the four provinces. In last fiscal year budget, the government also allocated an estimated Rs11 billion for three projects under the PSDP to raise some additional wings of the civil armed forces.