France shuts Karachi consulate permanently

France has permanently closed its consulate in Karachi. The French Consulate formally announced the closure.

The consulate shared a farewell message for the city. It wrote, “Goodbye Karachi.”

The French mission also thanked its friends and partners in Karachi. It appreciated their support and cooperation during the consulate’s presence in the city.

The French and European Union flags were also removed from the consulate building after the closure.

The decision to shut the Karachi consulate had been announced earlier this year. In July, the French Consul General in Karachi, Alexis, spoke about the decision during a ceremony held to mark France’s National Day.

He said the French government had decided to close the Consul General’s office in Karachi because of budgetary constraints.

The closure is part of the French government’s efforts to manage its diplomatic resources and reduce costs. The decision means that the French Consulate will no longer operate from its Karachi premises.

The development marks the end of the French consulate’s direct diplomatic presence in Karachi. The French diplomatic mission in Pakistan will continue to handle relations between the two countries through its remaining diplomatic arrangements.

The closure has also brought an end to the consulate’s local operations and its direct engagement with individuals and organisations in Karachi.