The Chinese government has pledged to continue work on the Gwadar port project so vital for Pakistan's economic development and complete it ahead of schedule as a world class modern port in the region.
This was stated by Chinese Consul-General Sun Chunyt at a joint press conference with Communications Minister Babar Ghauri at Aga Khan Hospital here on Monday evening after inquiring welfare of the injured workers.
He said that the Chinese engineers and workers were not at all scared by the incident and heavy loss of life of their colleagues and would not leave the work and go back.
The engineers killed in the terrorist attack were supervising the project, the diplomat added.
He said that arrangements were being made to shift the bodies to China.
Addressing the press conference, Babar Ghauri lauded the courage and dedication of the Chinese engineers working in Pakistan, and said it reflected the depth of immortal friendship that existed between the two countries.
He said that the elements that did not want to see Pakistan make progress were behind the deplorable incident.
The government has started investigation at the highest level and culprits would be dealt with iron handed.
The minister, who earlier visited the injured Chinese and Pakistani workers admitted to the Aga Khan Hospital, said he had given full instructions for providing best treatment to the injured.
The entire ministry's departments, including Port Qasim, Karachi Port, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) and the Directorate-General of Ports and Shipping had been mobilised to take care of the injured and to make smooth arrangements for the shifting of bodies of the deceased engineers to their hometowns.
Babar said that he met the Chinese Ambassador in Islamabad after the incident, who agreed that the terrorist incident was a conspiracy to spoil cordial relations between Pakistan and China, but the Chinese diplomat vowed that the traditional Pak-China friendship would not be affected and nor the crucial project of Gwadar would be wrapped up.
The minister was asked if nationalists in Balochistan were behind the act and there was a lapse in security that prompted the incident, he said that not only Gwadar or Balochistan, but entire Pakistan was the target of international terrorists, who were doing such acts in the entire world.
Babar said that Gwadar Port project was the lifeline for Pakistan's economy and work would not be stopped in any circumstances.