US Embassy Alert to US citizens

American Consulate Lahore Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens: Threat Against English Language Schools

Al-Bab Report

According to media reports, The Punjab Home Department has warned that international and foreign schools and schools with English language curricula in Lahore may be the target of a terror organization operation already underway.  The U.S. Consulate General considers these threats to be credible.  U.S. citizens are advised to avoid such schools until the threat is resolved.

U.S. citizens are reminded that there is an active Travel Warning for Pakistan issued on October 7, 2016. U.S. citizens are urged to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan. The Mission reminds those U.S. citizens considering travel to or remaining in Pakistan despite this warning to:

• keep a trusted friend informed of your movements in country
• maintain vigilant situational awareness and keep a low profile
• avoid large crowds, locations frequented by Westerners, and hotels that do not apply stringent security measures
• vary your times and routes when traveling in Pakistan
• verify that travel documents, visas, and residency documents remain valid and accessible at all times

Consular services in Pakistan are available in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.  The consulate in Peshawar is not providing consular services at this time.
For Further Information:

• See the State Department’s travel websitefor the Worldwide Caution, Worldwide Travel Alert, the active Travel Warning for 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. 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 Gujrat District. See also Consulate General Lahore’s section on the Mission Pakistan webpage.

• 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.  See also Consulate General Karachi’s section on the Mission Pakistan webpage.

• You may also 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 also is available 24 hours a day for emergencies involving U.S. citizens in all other parts of Pakistan.  See also the Embassy’s 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).