The federal government has approved the purchase of a Rs95 million bullet-proof vehicle for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Secretariat to strengthen security arrangements for Chinese nationals working on strategic development projects across Pakistan.
The decision comes as authorities seek to address operational challenges caused by the limited availability of secure transport provided by the Cabinet Division, which has reportedly delayed or led to the cancellation of key official engagements involving Chinese delegations.
Govt Approves Bullet-Proof Vehicle for CPEC Security
The Planning Ministry confirmed that a new Toyota Land Cruiser 3,500cc will be procured exclusively for transporting Chinese officials, technical experts, and visiting delegations associated with CPEC.
The vehicle will become part of the government’s existing fleet of bullet-proof vehicles and other security assets deployed to ensure the safe movement of Chinese personnel amid heightened security concerns.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the purchase is aimed solely at strengthening the protection of Chinese nationals, describing their security as one of the government’s highest priorities. Chinese engineers, investors, and technical experts working on CPEC projects are considered high-risk targets and, under existing security protocols, are not permitted to travel in standard vehicles.
The procurement will be carried out through direct contracting under Rule 42(c)(vii) of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Rules to expedite the purchase while remaining compliant with procurement regulations.
Transport Shortage Prompted the Decision
According to official documents, the CPEC Secretariat repeatedly informed the Planning Ministry that dependence on the Cabinet Division’s vehicle pool had become increasingly difficult because of limited availability and growing demand.
Officials said requests for secure transport frequently went unmet, resulting in delays, rescheduling, and in some cases, cancellation of important meetings involving Chinese delegations.
The Secretariat maintained that reliable transport is essential for carrying out its responsibilities of coordinating and monitoring projects under the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor initiative.
Chinese delegations and technical experts regularly visit the Planning Ministry, the CPEC Secretariat, and project sites for meetings, inspections, and coordination. Officials warned that inadequate transport arrangements could affect operational efficiency as well as Pakistan’s diplomatic and protocol commitments.
The issue has become more significant as Pakistan and China celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations, with several high-level Chinese delegations expected to visit the country for CPEC-related engagements during the year.
Rs95 Million Land Cruiser Approved
Three authorised Toyota dealerships submitted quotations for the vehicle, with only minor differences in pricing.
Toyota Central Motors submitted the lowest bid of Rs95.049 million, which was accepted by the government.
The other quotations included:
- Toyota Port Qasim: Rs95.25 million
- Toyota Society: Rs95.45 million
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has already approved the procurement, allowing the Planning Ministry to proceed.
Officials clarified that the Land Cruiser will first be purchased in its standard configuration before being converted into a bullet-proof vehicle in accordance with the Ministry of Interior’s standard operating procedures.
Funding Arranged Through Budget Reallocation
The CPEC Secretariat initially lacked sufficient funds to finance the purchase.
To overcome the shortfall, the Planning Ministry reallocated Rs58.3 million from several ongoing development projects before the end of the previous fiscal year.
However, despite arranging the funds before June 30, the ministry could not place the order because the required administrative approvals were not completed before the close of the financial year.
Officials said the procurement will now be completed during the current fiscal year.
The ministry redirected funds from multiple projects, including:
- Competitive Grants Programme for policy research
- Centre of Excellence for CPEC
- Federal SDGs Administration project
- Monitoring and Evaluation project
- Budget allocated for contractual employees
Internal documents indicate that obtaining surplus funds was challenging because most project directors were unwilling to surrender allocated budgets, with only the Federal SDGs Administration project reporting available surplus funds.
CPEC 2.0 Expected to Increase Chinese Presence
Officials say the purchase comes as Pakistan enters the next phase of CPEC 2.0, which is expected to bring a larger number of Chinese experts and technical teams to the country.
The acting Project Director of the CPEC Secretariat said Chinese specialists have been invited to support long-term development planning, export promotion, establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and agricultural modernisation initiatives.
With more Chinese delegations expected to visit Pakistan, authorities believe reliable and secure transportation has become increasingly important.
Officials also confirmed that payment for the vehicle will be made through a single transaction, after which it will undergo bullet-proofing under Interior Ministry security requirements before entering official service.
CPEC Security Remains a Government Priority
The procurement reflects Pakistan’s continued efforts to strengthen security arrangements for Chinese personnel involved in CPEC, one of the flagship projects under Pakistan-China economic cooperation.
As work on CPEC 2.0 accelerates and bilateral collaboration expands into new sectors, the government aims to ensure that visiting Chinese officials, investors, and technical experts can travel safely while supporting ongoing infrastructure and development initiatives.