Sweden has announced the closure of its embassy in Islamabad due to the "current situation" in Pakistan. In a statement, the embassy confirmed that its Migration Section is not currently able to handle requests of any kind and is unable to send any documents to consulates or home addresses. The embassy did not provide any indication of when it might reopen, stating that it was unable to answer any questions regarding a reopening. The embassy also thanked the public for their patience and noted that the safety of its applicants and staff members is of the highest priority.
Reaction to embassy closure
In response to the embassy's announcement, the Pakistan Embassy in Sweden tweeted that many Pakistani students who are applying for Swedish universities this year are concerned about the status of their applications. The Pakistan Embassy hopes that the students can apply for visas soon and stated that education is an important aspect of the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
Impact on overseas Pakistanis
According to ARY News, overseas Pakistanis are currently unable to call their families in Sweden due to the closure of the embassy in Islamabad. The news channel reported that the issuance of a Swedish visa usually takes between four and six months, and diplomatic sources have confirmed that the embassy has been contacted by the concerned officials at the Foreign Office regarding the issue.
No indication of reopening
While the Swedish Embassy in Pakistan has not provided any information about when it may reopen, diplomatic sources within the embassy have confirmed that they are currently unable to provide any updates. Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Asad Majeed Khan, has been informed of the situation by overseas Pakistanis and students affected by the embassy closure. The situation is ongoing, and it remains unclear when the embassy will reopen.
