Chinese engineers in Pakistan compel to stay in factories

By Sara Atique

“How can I describe how different my life was in China? There was a lot that wasn’t there.” 

When Hu (pseudonym) first came to Pakistan for work in 2017, he heard a lot about the deep ties between Pakistan and China. Maybe that was the only thing they knew about Pakistan before they came here. 

The same year, a Chinese couple was abducted from Quetta and then were slain with the so-called Islamic State militant group claiming responsibility. 

After the incident, when the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and the President of China Xi Jinping gathered in Astana, Kazakhstan for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, news came that the Chinese president did not meet the Pakistani Minister. 

Chinese officials have denied reports that the Chinese president had met with Nawaz Sharif. This was mentioned in a statement released by Pakistan’s state-run media, not in pictures of the Chinese Foreign Ministry that included others. 

Even after this incident, Chinese nationals working in Pakistan were targeted several times by militants, which affected the relations between the two countries and the lives of Chinese citizens working here. 

In July, security for Chinese nationals working in Pakistan was beefed up following the alleged attack on a bus near Dasu Dam that killed nine Chinese engineers. 

“We work in a factory and live here.”

Hu and seven other colleagues work as engineers in a factory in Pakistan that produces other products, including fish oil. 

It may be recalled that apart from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), various Chinese companies have also invested in Pakistan. A large number of Chinese employees are residing in Pakistan and are serving in multiple fields. 

There was such a stench of fish in this factory that it was impossible to spend even a few moments there, so how difficult it can be to live. High walls surrounded the factory with barbed wire and a CCTV camera at every distance. In addition, FC guards were stationed inside and outside the factory. 

“Our lives are now limited to this factory,” says Hu. We work here, and we live here.” 

The factory owner says due to the security situation in Balochistan and the threat to the lives of these Chinese citizens, he is compelled to keep them inside the factory. 

But there are no separate residential houses in the factory for their accommodation, no gym or park, etc. Instead, Hu and his colleagues live in three small rooms in the factory. 

“If my friends ask before coming to Pakistan, I will tell them. By the way, there is nothing to worry about something. It would help if you came to Pakistan, and it’s just that you can’t get out of here.” 

The factory owner says that before the Dasu Dam incident, he used to take these Chinese engineers to the market under police security, but now he is not allowed to do so. 

“We were told we could not take these Chinese citizens anywhere,” he said. We have been instructed to bring a doctor to the factory instead of a hospital, even in medical emergencies. 

“We have an agreement with them that they will not eat anything wrong.”

Fear and restrictions on movement are not the only problems for Hu and his colleagues. Differences in food and lifestyle and some prejudices have also made their lives very different from life in China. 

The factory owner says he has agreed with the workers that they will not eat anything they object to Chinese. 

A colleague of Hu’s also brought his wife with him to Pakistan to cook for them. Hu says he spends most of his time on rice and vegetables. 

“There are a lot of (Chinese) food and drink that is not available here,” he says. But since I’ve been here for more than five years, I don’t care much. It’s a habit now. “ 

Hu says the big difference between Pakistan and China is religion. 

“Pakistan and China are very different countries, and Pakistan is a Muslim country while China is different. He is his own country, and that’s why we walk around there quickly. Stay as you wish.  

“We have to have a Chinese engineer.” 

Most of the Chinese workers in Pakistan are working on government-sponsored CPEC projects, and the factory is owned by a few Pakistanis who have hired Chinese engineers in their factories. 

“The plant came from China and is run by Chinese. There is no one to run this plant in Pakistan. So I have to keep these Chinese engineers. However, the government’s conditions for keeping them are stringent.

The factory owner says that it is necessary to get a NOC from the government to hire a Chinese citizen. 

“Besides, the conditions have become stricter now, and we have been asked to keep a bulletproof vehicle for them. In addition to government security, we have been instructed to have personal security guards and not take them anywhere without informing the nearest police station and DC. 

According to the factory owner, all these conditions have created more difficulties because no one in Pakistan knows this job. Therefore, they must keep Chinese citizens. 

Who threatens Chinese engineers in Pakistan?

The Chinese and Pakistani governments call CPEC a “game-changer” for Pakistan and Balochistan in particular. He said that CPEC would carry out development works in many backward areas of the country, including Balochistan, which would bring prosperity to the underdeveloped regions. 

That is why the Pakistani government has set up a special contingent of 9,000 militaries and 6,000 paramilitary personnel to secure Chinese nationals working on CPEC and its projects. 

In addition, a budget has been allocated for the security of Chinese workers. But from time to time, Chinese diplomatic staff and workers have been targeted by extremist organizations. 

Chinese engineers were first targeted by militants in Gwadar in 2004 when a car bomb killed three Chinese nationals. Then, in 2007, Chinese workers were again targeted in Peshawar. 

In 2017, a Chinese couple was killed after being abducted from Quetta. The Islamic State claimed responsibility, and a year later, in 2018, a bus carrying Chinese engineers was targeted by a suicide bomber in the Dalbandin area. 

A month after the attack, the Chinese consulate in Karachi was attacked by militants. The separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for both attacks. 

Chinese nationals working in Pakistan have been targeted by both Baloch separatists and Islamic extremist organizations. 

Baloch separatists have warned the Chinese government to abandon plans to seize Baloch territory and its natural resources in the name of CPEC, otherwise will the wrath.

On the other hand, Islamic extremist groups have targeted the Uyghur Muslim minority in China, citing discrimination in Pakistan. 

China has in the past denied allegations of abuse against the Uyghur community. 

“We don’t even have such a protocol in China”

But Hu is satisfied with the Pakistani government’s move. 

“In terms of security measures, I think Pakistan is perfect because Pakistan and China are excellent friends. The accidents were probably because Chinese friends had gone there without security, so the accident happened. 

“We have to be careful. Don’t go out without security. But the security measures taken by the government of Pakistan are much better. Police forces are with us 24 hours a day, and we may not find such a protocol in China. 

Hu hopes that over time, his life in Pakistan will return to normal. 

“It simply came to our notice then. Will improve, and those who want to see Pak-China friendship fail, whether they are locals here, from India, or from anywhere, all saboteurs will fail in their goals. The Pakistani and Chinese governments will work together to thwart all these conspiracies.

The article was originally published in BBC Urdu, translated by the Bolan Voice team, and is republished with special thanks.