Islamabad, 29 March 2024 (TDI): The Power Construction Corporation of China Limited (PCCCL) clarified that all site workers and office staff will be back to work on Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project after a temporary suspension.
The clarification came in response to the misunderstanding caused by an office order by the administration of the company due to accidental use of the word “lay-off”.
Following the office order the media reports claimed that a Chinese company “laid off” over 2000 workers from the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project, in response to the killing of 5 Chinese Engineers working on the site in a suicide attack in Shangla district.
According to the recent notification, the Chinese company with reference to Office Order No PCCCL/T5-Admin/2024-019 issued on dated 28th March 2024 stated that, it is expressed that all the site workers and office staff will be back to work after short time suspension.
Furthermore, the company also clarified that all the workers will be compensated with their due legal rights during the temporary suspension period, during the aforesaid suspension, related rights will be followed according to the Labour Law.
On Wednesday a vehicle laden with explosives targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers and a Pakistani driver, in the remote Besham area of KPK, killing six people.
Malakand Deputy Inspector General Muhammad Ali Gandapur reaffirmed that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. The Chinese engineers’ vehicle plunged into a deep ravine from the mountainous road, because of the severity of the blast.
During the regular press briefing of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Spokesperson Lin Jian said that we express deep condolences over the lives lost and extend sincere sympathies to the bereaved families.
ALSO READ: China says Pak-China alliance resilient against terrorism
China firmly supports Pakistan in fighting terrorism. We are solid in our commitment to the safety and security of Chinese nationals, institutions and projects overseas.
No attempt to sabotage China-Pakistan cooperation will ever succeed. China will continue supporting Pakistan’s socioeconomic development and efforts to make lives better for its people, and we remain firm in our commitment to working with Pakistan in various fields and delivering more benefit to the two peoples.
