Frere Hall to be opened as US Consulate shifted
January 19, 2011
Karachi
The United States Consulate has been finally shifted to a new location at Mai Kolachi, and the residents of the city are joyful that the historic Frere Hall —closed after a blast outside the consulate many years ago— will now be opened to the general public.
Sources told The News that the new office of the consulate would start functioning from next month and that the Frere Hall would be eventually opened to visitors.
The sources added that the US officials were considering retaining the USAID office at the old consulate.
“The US consulate general in Karachi has moved to a new location. The new consulate includes an American Center designed to increase interaction between Americans and Pakistanis. The Center will include educational information and cultural programmes. The new consulate clearly reflects the enduring relationship between America and Pakistan. It is a commitment by the American people and the government to stand with Pakistan for the long term,” said a press note issued by the US Consulate on Tuesday.
US Consul General William Martin seems to be enthusiastic about the move to the new facility. “This is a historic and important move. I am looking forward to showing the people of Sindh and Balochistan our new consulate complex,” said Martin in the statement.
In 2005, the US government purchased 20 acres of land from the Karachi Port Trust for the new office, for which a ground-breaking event took place in May 2008.
SSP Irshad Ali Sehar of Sadar Town said that security had been enhanced at the new office, as the barb wires and concrete blocks from the old office had been moved to the new one. He said Abdullah Haroon Road opposite the old consulate will be opened to vehicles after the formal inauguration of the new US Consulate in February 2011. People have long been demanding shifting of the consulate office as the blockade of Abdullah Haroon Road and the closure of the Frere Hall due to security concerns of the US officials had been causing problems for the citizens.
The United States Consulate has been finally shifted to a new location at Mai Kolachi, and the residents of the city are joyful that the historic Frere Hall —closed after a blast outside the consulate many years ago— will now be opened to the general public.
Sources told The News that the new office of the consulate would start functioning from next month and that the Frere Hall would be eventually opened to visitors.
The sources added that the US officials were considering retaining the USAID office at the old consulate.
“The US consulate general in Karachi has moved to a new location. The new consulate includes an American Center designed to increase interaction between Americans and Pakistanis. The Center will include educational information and cultural programmes. The new consulate clearly reflects the enduring relationship between America and Pakistan. It is a commitment by the American people and the government to stand with Pakistan for the long term,” said a press note issued by the US Consulate on Tuesday.
US Consul General William Martin seems to be enthusiastic about the move to the new facility. “This is a historic and important move. I am looking forward to showing the people of Sindh and Balochistan our new consulate complex,” said Martin in the statement.
In 2005, the US government purchased 20 acres of land from the Karachi Port Trust for the new office, for which a ground-breaking event took place in May 2008.
SSP Irshad Ali Sehar of Sadar Town said that security had been enhanced at the new office, as the barb wires and concrete blocks from the old office had been moved to the new one. He said Abdullah Haroon Road opposite the old consulate will be opened to vehicles after the formal inauguration of the new US Consulate in February 2011. People have long been demanding shifting of the consulate office as the blockade of Abdullah Haroon Road and the closure of the Frere Hall due to security concerns of the US officials had been causing problems for the citizens.
