Americans in Pakistan Urged to Be Cautious; U.S. Embassy Services Close Until Monday

26 Sep 2008

The U.S. Department of State has notified U.S. citizens that they will suspend all routine consular services at their Embassy in Pakistan, which started yesterday and will continue through today.

According to the Department of State, U.S. government personnel are no longer permitted to stay at or visit any major hotels in Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi or Peshawar.

The U.S. Embassy will continue to provide emergency services to Americans in Pakistan, however. Individuals needed emergency services should call the Embassy switchboard at 92 51 208 0000. Americans who need more routine support, such as passports, should wait until Monday, September 29 to request such services.

Interviews: Interviews for immigrant and non-immigrant visas will be rescheduled until a later time. Applicants for immigrant visas will be contacted by the Embassy with further information. Applicants seeking non-immigrant visas should contact their local American Express or Speedex office to reschedule their employment.

The Embassy states implicitly in its notice that Americans in Pakistan should take precautions wherever they can to ensure security and safety. These precautionary measures could include the following:

“[Americans should maintain] good situational awareness, [avoid] crowds and demonstrations and [keep] a low profile. Americans should avoid setting patterns by varying times and routes for all required travel. Americans should ensure that their travel documents and visas are valid at all times.”

In addition, the Embassy strongly urges American citizens to register with the nearest Embassy or Consulate. Below, you will find contact information and particular information for each Embassy/Consulate in Pakistan, as provided by the Department of State:

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is located at Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5; telephone (92-51) 208-0000 ; Consular Section telephone (92-51) 208-2700 ; fax (92-51) 282-2632, website http://islamabad.usembassy.gov

The U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, located at 8 Abdullah Haroon Road, closed its public operations indefinitely due to security concerns. U.S. citizens requiring emergency assistance should call the consular section in Karachi. Their telephone is (92-21) 520-4200 (after hours: 92-21-520-4400 ; fax 92-21-568-0496, website http://karachi.usconsulate.gov

The U.S. Consulate in Lahore is located at 50- Sharah-E-Abdul Hameed Bin Badees, (Old Empress Road) near Shimla Hill Rotary, telephone (92-42) 603-4000 or 603-4250, fax (92-42) 603-4200, website http://lahore.usconsulate.gov Email address: acslahore@state.gov

The U.S. Consulate in Peshawar is located at 11 Hospital Road, Cantonment, Peshawar; telephone (92-91) 526-8000 ; fax (92-91) 527-6712, website http://peshawar.usconsulate.gov fax (92-42) 603-4200, website http://lahore.usconsulate.gov Email address: acslahore@state.gov

The U.S. Consulate in Peshawar is located at 11 Hospital Road, Cantonment, Peshawar; telephone (92-91) 526-8000 ; fax (92-91) 527-6712, website http://peshawar.usconsulate.gov