The U.S. Department of State has directed non-emergency personnel and their dependents stationed at the U.S. consulates in Karachi and Lahore to depart Pakistan. This decision was made in response to ongoing security concerns, according to a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan.

“The Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and the family members of U.S. government personnel from U.S. Consulates Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to safety risks,” the embassy stated.

The embassy also clarified that this directive does not affect the operational status of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.