Chinese Companies Halt Work on Multiple Projects in Pakistan, Leaving Thousands Jobless

Chinese companies involved in various developmental projects in Pakistan have abruptly ceased their operations, citing escalating security risks in the region. The decision comes in the aftermath of a deadly suicide attack that targeted Chinese workers in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, claiming multiple lives and intensifying anxieties over the safety of foreign personnel.

Two prominent Chinese companies engaged in hydropower projects, specifically the Daso and Diamer-Bhasha dams, have halted their activities following the tragic incident. Reports indicate that approximately 991 Chinese engineers were actively involved in these projects before operations were suspended.

Earlier, the Power Construction Corporation of China (PCCC) stopped their work at the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project in the Swabi district of KP province and laid off over 2,000 workers. These workers have been ordered to stay indoors until further orders. This decision came after a suicide attack struck a Chinese convoy when the engineers were going to work on the Daso Dam project.

After this attack, a Chinese company manufacturing electricity in Tarbela Ghazi Haripur had announced to stop working for an indefinite period. Tarbela Extension Hydro Project Management Power Construction Corporation of China Ltd. a Chinese company, told its employees in a letter that the work on the project has been closed since March 26 due to security reasons until further notice. The project workers were told that only those staff can come for work who are called by the in-charge or head of any project department.

The source says that after stopping the work on the Diamer and Tarbela dams, Chinese engineers are currently working only on the Mohmand Dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The source says that an official working in this dam has confirmed that the work on the dam has been stopped and the local crews have been told to stay inside their houses. The dam being built in upper Kohistan district will have the capacity to generate 4,320 megawatts of electricity and 6,000 local officials are also working on this project in addition to 741 Chinese engineers.

Nazakat Hussain, an official of Diamer Bahasha Dam (DBD), also confirmed that the Chinese company has suspended its work on this project as well. According to the report, about 500 people are working on this project, but it is said that the employees of the FWO have kept their work on the project and 6000 local people are engaged in the construction of the dam.

The Chinese embassy in Pakistan demanded the protection of Chinese citizens after the death of five Chinese engineers and one of their Pakistani drivers in a suicide attack on Chinese engineers working on the Daso Dam in Shangla. After this incident, a special group of Chinese investigators have arrived in Pakistan to investigate the Shangle attack, so that they could independently investigate this suicide attack along with cooperation with the Pakistani authorities. Pakistani media say that on Friday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi spoke with the Chinese investigative team about the investigation of the incident and informed them about the developments in this regard. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has assured the Chinese investigation team that the main suspects involved in the Shangle attack will be brought to justice in any case.