KARACHI: France will permanently close its consulate in Karachi after five decades of diplomatic service, outgoing Ambassador Nicolas Galey announced at a farewell event.
The consulate, set up in 1976, will wind down operations as both Ambassador Galey and Karachi’s Consul General Alexis Chahtahtinsky leave their posts. Chahtahtinsky said he will depart Pakistan on September 1.
While the consulate is closing, France will keep running the Alliance Française in Karachi and the Pakistan–France Business Alliance, officials said.
Speaking at an event organised with the Quaid‑e‑Azam House Museum and the Karachi Council of Foreign Relations (KCFR), Galey did not give a detailed reason for the closure but said it was a “sad moment” as he praised Karachi’s vitality and development.
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KCFR Vice Chairman Ikram Sehgal called the timing “ill‑timed”, arguing it comes just as Pakistan’s maritime role and trade opportunities are expanding.
He recalled that France was the first non‑Muslim country to recognise Pakistan and highlighted long‑standing defence ties, including cooperation on submarines and fighter jets.
Chahtahtinsky said Pakistan’s global image has improved in recent years, especially due to its mediation efforts in the Gulf, adding that diplomats now see a “different Pakistan” compared with the past.
The closure marks the end of a 50‑year French diplomatic presence in Pakistan’s largest city, though the embassy in Islamabad will continue to operate.
