KARACHI, June 18: US Charge d’affaires Nancy J. Powell officially reopened the US Consulate here on Tuesday.

The Consulate was reopened, four days after a car bomb killed 12 Pakistanis and injured 51 others in front of the building, said a news release issued by office of Public Affairs, US Embassy.

Powell on the occasion said that the Consulate was resuming all its normal functions. She expressed thanks to the people of Karachi for their support since the tragedy, and extended her condolences to the families of Pakistani victims of the blast.

“We mourn with their families,” she said. “We grieve at the loss that each of these families is experiencing right now. These people have a very typical day in front of them and they have been unfortunately struck down by terror.” Powell lauded the efforts of the Consulate employees in restoring the building to working conditions noting it has been a “tremendous effort.”

Powell praised cooperation between Pakistan and American investigators working to identify the perpetrators of the attack stating that it was “one other example of our joint fight against terror” and expressed the hope that those responsible for the blast would be detained as soon as possible.

Following is the text of Powell’s remarks:

“It is with a heavy heart that I have come to Karachi today. My first duty has been to express condolences for all those who lost their lives out in front of the American Consulate General on Friday. We mourn with their families.

We grieve at the loss that each of these families is experiencing right now. These people had a very typical day in front of them and they have been unfortunately struck down by terror.

“I have also come today to assist in the reopening of the building and our activities here in Karachi. This has taken a tremendous effort by the employees of the Consulate General and we’re very pleased to be back in the building and to be operating with our normal functions that we had before.

“In addition to these normal functions, we are going to be assisting with the investigation. I am very pleased to see the cooperation between the government of Pakistan and the government of the United States of America.

“This has been yet one other example of our joint fight against terrorism and the cooperation that has been enjoyed throughout that fight is being seen here in Karachi as well.

“We hope that those responsible for this incident will be taken into custody as quickly as possible and that we will not have a repeat of this anywhere in the world, but especially here in Pakistan. Let me thank you again for joining us here today and to thank all the people of Karachi for their support over these past few days as we have dealt with the tragedy here at the Consulate General.”—APP