Security Message for U.S. Citizens

September 22, 2012 | U.S. Consulate General Lahore

This security message informs U.S. citizens that on September 22, two protests are scheduled with the possibility of additional spontaneous demonstrations. The first of these is a noontime march by the Muhammadia Students Organization (JuD Strudent Organization) from Neela Gumbad Old Anarkali (3.5 Km from the U.S. Consulate) to the Lahore Press Club (200 meters north of Consulate). 400 - 500 marchers will be monitored by 260 riot police, and the level of violence is uncertain. The second planned protest will be a motorcycle rally at 1300 by an anticipated 200 protestors from Jamat-Ahla-Sunnat (Noorani Group), a Sunni religious organization. They will ride from Gulberg Liberty Chowk (About 7 kilometers from the Consulate) to the Lahore Press Club. They will be monitored by 260 riot police, and are expected to be peaceful.

Public services at the Consulate General will continue to be temporarily suspended. The Consulate General will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens should contact (92-42) 3603-4000 for emergency American Citizen Services.

We remind U.S. citizens that demonstrations and protests in Pakistan are often spontaneous and can occur with little advance notice. We urge U.S. citizens to avoid all protests and demonstrations and to remember that even peaceful demonstrations can rapidly turn violent. Maintain good situational awareness, avoid crowds, and maintain a low profile. Monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate by monitoring our websites for updates on the security situation in Pakistan.

For more information on the risks of travel to Pakistan, please see the
Department of State's most recent Travel Warning by clicking here.

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 Affairs website, 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
• Karachi
• Lahore
• Peshawar

Contact Information 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.
•  The 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/; e-mail: 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- 1)526-8800; fax (92-91) 527-6712; e-mail address: ACSPeshawar@state.gov.