KARACHI, Aug 29: The French cultural centre, Alliance Francaise, reopened on Friday after more than a year’s closure that had been prompted by the killing of 11 French technicians, along with several others, in a bomb attack near five star hotels in the city in May last year.

An announcement to this effect was made by the outgoing director of the Alliance Francaise, Patrick Perez, at a farewell party held in his honour at the centre on Thursday night.

The Consul General of France in Karachi, Dupuis George, was also present on the occasion.

Mr Perez, who is to take up his new assignment in the ministry of foreign affairs in Paris, expressed his optimism that the progressive resumption of the centre’s activities would be more productive.

He said that continued cooperation extended to him enabled him to conduct his mission successfully.

He remarked that he was leaving Pakistan but not its culture, its people and its nice language.

Later, Mr Perez addressed the audience in Urdu language to express his gratitude over Pakistani people’s gestures and said that he would long remember all the friends. The new director will be assuming his responsibilities by the middle of next month, he told the audience.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Dupuis George expressed his pleasure over the reopening of the centre and resumption of its activities would help foster understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

People from various walks of life attended the farewell ceremony.—APP