Two motorcyclists approached the car the men were travelling in and sprayed it with bullets. The two officials escaped injury.

The city authorities said the shooting was probably a random attack; it was unlikely that the visitors had been targeted deliberately.

The city authorities had laid on an armoured personnel carrier to protect the delegation.

More than 600 people have died in violent incidents in Karachi this year and stricter security measures have been imposed in response.

Colombian success

Colombia has enjoyed considerable success in reducing crime levels in recent years and the Pakistani authorities are hoping that can be duplicated in Karachi.

The Colombian authorities have used a complex anti-crime strategy based on the inclusion of marginalised social groups in the political process.

They argue that the violent suppression of crime does not provide a long-term solution.

In recent weeks the Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has launched a security crackdown in Karachi, but similar initiatives in the past have failed.