On Saturday Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said that a security plan has been devised to protect Chinese workers in Pakistan. The plan was drawn up on the instructions of President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

He was speaking during a briefing to a Chinese delegation led by Assistant Commerce Minister Chen Jian.

Sherpao said security arrangements already in place would be further enhanced and reassured the delegation that last week's kidnapping would not be repeated. He also confirmed Musharraf's earlier statement that the mastermind behind the hostage crisis would be found and punished.

"We are deeply saddened that one of the hostages lost his life due to his injuries. The whole nation is grieved at the sad demise of our Chinese brother," he said, "We also extend condolences to the family of the deceased and convey our deep regret to the whole of China."

The Pakistani Communications Ministry has taken special measures for the safety of Chinese working on its projects, particularly in Gawadar Seaport.

"China is an extremely reliable friend of Pakistan and the terrorists can never shake this exemplary friendship," said the Minister for Communications, Muhammad Shamim Siddiqui. He also expressed his profound grief at the death of the Chinese engineer and said he will be visiting the Chinese Embassy to offer his sympathies.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Benazir Bhutto also expressed her distress over Wang Peng's murder.

Pakistan local news agency NNI quoted Bhutto as saying: "The death of one of the two engineers has sent shock waves throughout Pakistan. We sincerely regret this irreparable loss of life and pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul."

On Sunday, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan arrived in Islamabad, starting his two-day official good-will visit to Pakistan. He was to meet the Pakistani Prime Minister that day and President Musharraf and Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri later on Sunday to reinforce positive relations between the two countries.

(Shenzhen Daily, Xinhua News Agency, October 18, 2004)