Pakistan has reportedly assured China that it will establish a "special security division" for Chinese workers attached to the multibillion-dollar Pakistan-China Economic Corridor project in the country.
On April 20, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif signed $46 billion worth of agreements to begin building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a network of roads, railways, and pipelines linking western China with Pakistan's Arabian Sea coast.
The corridor will run through Pakistan's violence-plagued Balochistan region.
Pakistani presidential sources say that Xi's Pakistani counterpart, Mamnoon Hussain, told him a special army division would be given responsibility for the safety of Chinese workers.
Military spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa tweeted on April 21 that "special security division comprising army battalions and CAF (Civil Armed Forces) wings being raised as dedicated force for Pak-China economic projects."
In a later tweet, he said the division will be made up of nine army battalions and six CAF wings.
Pakistani media reports say the division will consist of more than 12,000 personnel.
With additional reporting by AFP and tribune.com.pk
