French Consulate Karachi permanent closure announced after 50 Years

KARACHI – French Consulate is preparing to close its doors permanently, marking end of long diplomatic chapter in country’s largest city Karachi.

Western Europeon nation is closing its decades-old announced permanent closure of its Consulate General after nearly 50 years of diplomatic and consular service in Pakistan’s economic powerhouse.

The dramatic decision was disclosed by outgoing French Ambassador to Pakistan Nicolas Galey during farewell ceremony in Karachi on Tuesday, marking a major shift in France’s diplomatic footprint in the country.

The consulate, established in 1976, will now close its doors permanently. The announcement came at an event organised by the Board of Management of the Quaid-e-Azam House Museum in collaboration with the Karachi Council of Foreign Relations. The gathering also marked the departure of French Consul General Alexis Chahtahtinsky.

Despite closure, Galey said France would not abandon its broader engagement with Pakistan. French cultural and commercial activities are expected to continue through the Alliance Française and the Pakistan-France Business Alliance, keeping key channels of interaction alive even after the consulate shuts down.

Karachi Council of Foreign Relations Vice Chairman Ikram Sehgal expressed concern over the move, arguing that Karachi’s growing economic and geopolitical importance should warrant a stronger French presence rather than a reduced diplomatic footprint.