PESHAWAR: No site available to relocate consulates
By Zulfiqar Ali
PESHAWAR, May 30: The NWFP government's proposed plan to relocate consulates of foreign missions in Peshawar into a single enclave for security reasons has hit snags due to non-availability of a suitable site to accommodate all the missions, officials said.
Police officials said that foreign missions including the UN offices, scattered across the city had become a security concern for the law enforcement agencies, since Pakistan adopted the role of a frontline state in the US-led war on terrorism in Afghanistan.
One senior official at the Capital City Police said that the plan to shift all the foreign missions to a separate enclave had been discussed in various meetings without arriving at a conclusion owing to the non-availability of a proper site.
The city hosts the US, Iranian and Afghan consulates, French and Iranian culture centres, American Club, British Council, residences of diplomatic staff and several offices of the UN and partner agencies.
The official said that the government had made arrangements for the security of foreign missions in the city, keeping in view the post-Sept 11 situation. But, it proved a very expensive exercise as a large number of personnel of security agencies were deputed there, he added, saying it was also causing great inconvenience for the general public in the city.
