The Foreign Affairs Liaison Office (FALO) Karachi of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a farewell and welcome reception for members of the Consular Corps at the State Guest House in Karachi on Friday.
Speaking at the event, Director General FALO Karachi Mohammad Irfan Soomro welcomed distinguished diplomats and members of the consular community, saying the gathering was an opportunity to bid farewell to colleagues who had successfully completed their assignments in Karachi while warmly welcoming those who had recently joined the city.
He paid tribute to the contributions of outgoing diplomats Lance Gavin Domm of United Kingdom and Alexis Chahtahtinsky of France, and extended a warm welcome to newly arrived diplomats Mudzakir from Indonesia, Akbar Eissazadeh from Iran, Ergul Kadak from Turkiye, and Joohoon Kim from South Korea as they begin their diplomatic assignments in Karachi.
The DG FALO noted that Karachi is not merely a place of posting but a unique experience for diplomats. As Pakistan’s economic and commercial hub, he said, the city offers opportunities that go far beyond traditional diplomacy.
“Few cities provide such direct access to business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, media, academia, civil society and one of the region’s most dynamic commercial communities,” he said.
Soomro highlighted that while diplomats in many capitals spend years building economic networks, Karachi offers a different environment where opportunities often come directly to the diplomatic community.
He said the city’s vibrant business community actively engages with the diplomatic corps, making Karachi a natural hub for trade, investment, connectivity and economic diplomacy.
Addressing the outgoing diplomats, he said they would carry with them the warmth, resilience and spirit of Karachi as they return to their capitals or move on to new assignments.
He also expressed hope that they would continue to share Pakistan’s message of partnership, trade and global connectivity based on mutual benefit and shared prosperity.
He encouraged both outgoing and incoming diplomats to promote people-to-people contacts, facilitate travel and visa processes for Pakistanis—particularly businesspeople where possible—and support greater exchanges of investors, students, trade delegations and business communities between countries.
Welcoming the newly arrived diplomats, Soomro said Karachi is a city of immense energy and opportunity that rewards those who engage it with openness, curiosity and ambition.
He reaffirmed that the FALO Karachi remains fully committed to supporting the diplomatic community and strengthening the spirit of cooperation that defines Karachi’s consular corps.
British Deputy High Commissioner Lance Gavin Domm, in his speech, said that the Pakistan-UK trade needs to be increased.
He said both countries has also cricket diplomacy and many Pakistani students are studying or doing jobs in the UK. He further said that both countries has excellent relations.
Consul General of France Alexis Chahtahtinsky said that France was the first non-Muslim country which recognized Pakistan. He said Pakistan and France Armed forces have a tremendous relationship. He said he has served around four years in Pakistan which is a wonderful country and especially Karachi people are so hospitable citizens.
Later, shields and bouquets were presented to the outgoing and incoming diplomats.
