The United States will resume regular consular services at its consulates in Karachi and Lahore from July 20, 2026, the US Embassy in Islamabad announced on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued by the embassy, the two consulates will once again provide services to US citizens and process non-immigrant visa applications after the suspension of operations earlier this year.
Consular services at the US missions in Karachi and Lahore were suspended in March following violent protests linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran that led to casualties and heightened security concerns.
On March 1, at least 10 people were killed in Karachi when protesters clashed with law enforcement personnel near the US Consulate on Mai Kolachi Road. Police used tear gas and baton charges to disperse the demonstrators, while reports said US Marines also opened fire during the unrest.
Similar protests were held in Islamabad, where at least two protesters lost their lives and more than 30 others sustained injuries during clashes with law enforcement personnel near the Diplomatic Enclave.
In the wake of the violence, the US State Department on March 4 directed the departure of non-emergency personnel and their family members from the US consulates in Karachi and Lahore, citing security concerns.
Later, in May, the US State Department announced the phased closure of its consulate in Peshawar, stating that its operations would be shifted to the US Embassy in Islamabad. It said the decision had been under consideration for more than a year as part of a broader downsizing of federal agencies and was unrelated to the Iran conflict
