Islamabad, March 13 – The US Embassy in Islamabad announced on Friday that it would extend the suspension of its visa services until March 20, while also stating that all consular services at the US Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore would remain suspended.
In a statement posted on X, the US Embassy in Islamabad said, "The US Embassy in Islamabad continues to provide routine and emergency services to US citizens. All visa appointments, both for immigrants and non-immigrants, have been cancelled until March 20. Affected applicants will receive instructions via email on how to reschedule their appointments."
The Embassy also shared the website details, where applicants can check the status of their appointments. The Embassy further stated, "All consular services at the US Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore remain suspended."
On March 3, the US ordered non-emergency government employees and family members of staff at its Consulates in Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan, citing safety concerns, according to an official statement.
In a statement, the US Embassy in Pakistan said, "On March 3, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency US government employees and the family members of US government personnel from US Consulates Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to safety risks. The status of the Embassy in Islamabad remains unchanged."
The decision was made after protests erupted in Pakistan following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli strike on February 28. At least 23 protesters were killed in clashes in Pakistan, including 10 outside the US Consulate in Karachi, and 11 in Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan, which is under Pakistani control, where the crowd also set fire to a UN office. Two protesters were killed in Islamabad, according to The Express Tribune, a leading daily in Pakistan.
In Karachi, demonstrators gathered outside the Consulate, where witnesses reported gunfire in the area.
In Lahore, hundreds of protesters assembled outside the Consulate, and clashes were reported after police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
In Islamabad, protesters attempted to march towards the Embassy despite roadblocks and heavy security deployment.