Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Karachi
Observance of Eid Milad Un Nabi on Friday, December 1, 2017
Thursday, November 30, 2017
The U.S. Consulate General in Karachi advises U.S. citizens that on Friday, December 1, 2017, we expect large processions in Karachi in celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, Eid Milad Un Nabi.
In Karachi, 39 processions are expected to take place at various locations and with few exceptions all processions will terminate at Nishter Park. Major processions will begin at approximately 2:00pm from Tower, Shaheed Masjid, and Memon Masjid. The procession from Tower will march to Majid Aram Bagh via M.A. Jinnah Road, Tibet Center, Regal Chowk, Shahrah-e-Liaquat and Fresco Chowk. The procession from Shaheed Masjid will proceed via M.A. Jinnah Road to Madjid Gulzar-e-Habib in the Soldier Bazar area. Two other processions will start at Memon Masjid and march via M.A. Jinnah Road to Nishter Park. Additional, smaller processions will begin in other areas and will merge with larger processions along the way. All processions are expected to begin dispersing at approximately 8:00pm.
Eid Milad Un Nabi processions have at times been a target of sectarian violence. Police and other security forces will deploy additional security forces in support of the government’s comprehensive security plan.
U.S. citizens should avoid procession areas due to the potential for large crowds and traffic congestion and sudden changes in security. U.S. citizens are reminded to expect traffic delays, increased number of people in public areas, and unplanned disruptions in transportation. You should exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings. It is possible that cell phone services may be interrupted during periods of unrest.
The Consulate General will be closed in observance of the holiday. U.S. citizens in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the Consulate General or the Embassy as described below.
For further information:
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Worldwide Travel Alert, the active Travel Warningfor Pakistan, and Pakistan Country Specific Information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Contact the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, located at Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, +92 51 201 4000. (Calling within Pakistan, dial 051 201 4000.) This number is also available 24 hours a day for emergencies involving U.S. citizens in other parts of Pakistan.
- Contact the U.S. Consulate in Karachi , located at Plot No. 3-5, TPX Area, Mai Kolachi Road, Karachi, at +92 21 3527 5000. (Calling within Pakistan, dial 021 3527 5000.) This number is available 24 hours a day for emergencies involving U.S. citizens in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan.
- Contact the U.S. Consulate in Lahore, located at 50 Shahrah-E-Abdul Hameed Bin Badees (Old Empress Road), at +92 42 3603 4000. (Calling within Pakistan, dial 042 3603 4000.) This number is available 24 hours a day for emergencies involving U.S. citizens in the province of Punjab south of the Jehlum River and the district of Bhakkar.
- Contact the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar, located at 11 Hospital Road, Peshawar Cantonment, at +92 91 526 8800. (Calling within Pakistan, dial 091 526 8800.) This number is available 24 hours a day for emergencies involving U.S. citizens in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). See also Consulate General Peshawar’s section on the Mission Pakistan webpage.
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
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