Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Suspending Public Services and Civil Strike

September 12, 2012

This security message informs U.S. citizens that the U.S. Consulate General is temporarily suspending public services while assessing our security posture due to ongoing preparations for a September 13 strike against the recently signed Sindh Local Governance Ordinance. The strike has the potential to continue for several days and cause disruption. As a precautionary measure, all routine consular services have been cancelled through Friday, September 14.  In addition, the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi has restricted travel of mission personnel. The Consulate General will continue to make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens.  U.S. Citizens should contact (92-21) 3527-5000 for emergency American Citizen Services. 

U.S. citizens are reminded of the potential danger to U.S. citizens posed by the presence of al-Qaida, Taliban elements, and indigenous militant sectarian groups in Pakistan.  Threat reporting indicates these groups continue to seek opportunities to attack U.S. Mission personnel, U.S. citizens and other westerners especially at locations where they are known to congregate.  Terrorists may use the planned strike activity over the coming days as an opportunity to initiate attacks. Therefore, it is especially important that U.S. citizens during this time continue to maintain good situational awareness, avoid crowds and public places, and keep a low profile.

U.S. citizens abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Updated information on travel and security

Updated information on travel and security in Pakistan may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). For further information, please consult the Travel Warning for Pakistan  and the Country Specific Information for Pakistan, as well as the Worldwide Caution.  You can also stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairswebsite, which also contains current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts.  Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook, and download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.

U.S. citizens traveling to or living in Pakistan are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). If you enroll we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements and can also help your family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency. U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. 

To view emergency services to U.S. citizens in the different consular districts, please click on the links below:

Islamabad: http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/pakistan/citizen_services/warden.html

Karachi: http://karachi.usconsulate.gov/acs_emergency_servcies.html

Lahore: http://lahore.usconsulate.gov/lahore/citizen_services.html

Peshawar: http://peshawar.usconsulate.gov/citizen_services.html

Contact Information follows for all U.S. Mission to Pakistan Posts:

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; e-mail address:ACSIslamabad@state.gov.

U.S. Consulate General Karachi, located at Plot No 3-5, TPX Area, Mai Kolachi Road, Karachi, provides services to U.S. citizens by appointment only. Services can be scheduled by calling (92-21) 3527-5000 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday-Friday; fax (92-21) 3527-5885; website:http://karachi.usconsulate.gov/; email: acskarachi@state.gov.

The U.S. Consulate General in Lahore is located at 50- Sharah-E-Abdul Hameed Bin Badees, (Old Empress Road) near Shimla Hill Rotary; telephone (92-42) 3603-4000 or 3603-4250; fax (92-42) 3603-4200;  e-mail address: acslahore@state.gov.

The U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar is located at 11 Hospital Road, Cantonment, Peshawar; telephone (92-91) 526-8800; fax (92-91) 527-6712.