ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Police officials said on Friday that they were searching for two European aid workers who were kidnapped the day before in central Pakistan.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the abductions in Multan, a city in Punjab Province. It was not clear if the aid workers had been taken by criminals or by Taliban insurgents.

The news came as an embarrassment to Pakistan, especially the government of Punjab Province. Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister, is visiting Germany, and Punjab officials tried to play down the news.

The kidnappings have once again raised concerns about the security of foreigners, especially aid workers, as such episodes have increased in recent years. Pakistani officials acknowledge that most of the kidnappings are used by Taliban militants to generate money for terrorist operations and to facilitate swapping of their imprisoned militants.