France has formally closed its consulate general in Karachi after nearly five decades, with all its diplomatic and consular affairs to be managed by the French Embassy in Islamabad in future. In a farewell message on Facebook, the consulate said it had "closed its doors permanently" following the lowering of French and EU flags.

The closure of the consulate, established in 1976, has been attributed to budgetary constraints and a broader French policy to reduce its diplomatic presence worldwide. French Consul General in Karachi Alexis Chahtahtinsky is due to leave Pakistan on September 1 following the closure of the mission.

Despite the consulate's shutdown, French cultural and business institutions in Karachi will continue their activities. The Alliance Française and Pakistan-France Business Alliance will remain open and active, helping sustain cultural, educational and commercial ties between the two countries.

The French Embassy in Islamabad is also set for a change, with Ambassador Nicolas Galey due to return to Paris after completing nearly five years of diplomatic service in Pakistan.