ISLAMABAD: China has announced that it is temporarily closing the consular section of its embassy in Pakistan due to ‘technical issues’.
The Chinese embassy did not share any specific information about the nature of the problems, nor did it provide a timeline for reopening the consular section.
In a notice posted on its official website, the Chinese embassy announced the temporary closure of the consular section for public information. According to the announcement, the closure will remain in place until further orders.
“The Consular Section of the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad will remain temporarily closed from February 13, 2023 – until further notice due to technical issues,” the notice said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government has also advised its citizens to be extremely cautious in view of the security situation in Pakistan. In a notice on Saturday, the Consular Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry warned its citizens that they could face a high level of security risk in the country.
People are advised to call 051-8496167 if they need assistance with urgent passport and travel document matters. Applicants with other inquiries may email islamabad@csm.mfa.gov.cn.
The announcement by the Chinese government came a day after the government reiterated its commitment to protect all Pakistani citizens and foreign nationals.
While presiding over a meeting on counter-terrorism and security of foreign nationals in Gwadar on February 12, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah directed the authorities to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Pakistani and foreign nationals. Take possible steps.
He said that foolproof security will be provided to Chinese nationals working on various projects in Pakistan and no negligence will be tolerated in this regard.
