Pakistan confirmed on Friday that it is in discussions with China to establish a joint security mechanism, as its hopes for significant infrastructure and energy deals during the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang largely went unmet.
The main outcome of the visit included agreements for the provision of six bulletproof vehicles and around 20 fire-fighting trucks. Additionally, two agreements were signed for a currency swap and drama production, along with five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) focused on providing security and fire-fighting vehicles, as well as cooperation in laboratory establishment, human resources training, and water conservation.
However, no agreements were reached regarding the establishment of a joint security company to safeguard Chinese interests in Pakistan or the restructuring of Chinese energy debt. China had previously requested the formation of a joint security company to protect its citizens and assets, while Pakistan aimed to at least secure an MoU for energy debt restructuring.
“Discussions on establishing a joint security mechanism are ongoing within our joint working group on security, where details will be thoroughly addressed and finalized,” stated Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. He emphasized that security cooperation remains a top priority for both countries, committed to ensuring the safety of Chinese nationals and installations.
Just days before the visit, a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Chinese nationals working on a power plant, resulting in two deaths and one injury. In response, Pakistan approved compensation of $516,000 for the families of the deceased.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office noted that Pakistan and China signed an MoU on security cooperation. Under this agreement, the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) will provide six bulletproof vehicles to enhance national security and support economic and social development in Pakistan.
Both nations acknowledged that a secure environment is essential for deepening development cooperation and agreed to strengthen counter-terrorism and security measures. Iqbal mentioned that the number of bulletproof vehicles may vary based on security assessments and regional needs.
There was no progress on signing commercial financing agreements for the Karachi-Hyderabad section of the Mainline-I project or for the Raikot-Thakot section of the Karakoram Highway. Iqbal noted that prioritization of the Karachi-Hyderabad section of the ML-I project as the first phase would proceed, with technical specifications, timelines, and financing discussions planned with a team of Chinese experts.
Additionally, the Chinese government will organize training workshops for Pakistan in various areas, including law enforcement capabilities in Balochistan, construction of Export Processing Zones, industrial parks along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and trade facilitation. Expenses related to international travel, training, and accommodation for Pakistani participants will be covered by China.
Both countries also signed an MoU to enhance cooperation in information technology, exploring projects such as cloud services, smart government initiatives, green energy solutions for educational institutions, and capacity-building efforts.
China will also provide 19 fire trucks, one multifunctional rescue vehicle, and a multifunctional rescue excavator for Islamabad, with funding of 72.31 million renminbi. Additionally, an MoU was signed to explore social and livelihood projects related to agriculture, healthcare, and vocational training within the CPEC framework.
Pakistan had proposed about 41 deliverables for the Chinese Prime Minister’s visit, of which approximately 13 deals were signed. Ahsan Iqbal stated that Pakistan successfully met all mutually agreed deliverables, although no agreement was reached on a loan for the $2 billion realignment of the Thakot-Raikot project. Furthermore, China did not support proposals for finalizing four road projects: DI Khan-Zhob road, Mirpur-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra road, Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway, and the Babusar Top tunnel, nor was there any announcement regarding a loan agreement for the Pakistan Space Centre.
