PESHAWAR, Sept 4: French culture centres have suspended their activities in Pakistan for an indefinite period, days before Sept 11 anniversary.

An official in the French embassy in Islamabad told Dawn by telephone on Wednesday that the four cultural centres — Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar — had been directed to suspend all activities with immediate effect keeping in view the prevailing security situation in the country.

He, however, said: “This is just a precautionary measure,” and added that the cultural centres would likely to resume its operation when the security situation improved. He said the embassy had taken this step for the safety of its own nationals and other visitors.

The official said the French embassy had taken the decision in the backdrop of the 9/11 anniversary and keeping in view the previous suicide attack in Karachi in which 14 persons including 10 French engineers were killed and recent attacks on church and missionary hospital and school in Punjab. The British Council has already closed its centre in Peshawar.

The director of French Culture Centre in Peshawar, Matthieu Pinel, said there were certain reasons, but “security” was one of them due to which they had to halt their activities. He said they received directives from the embassy to postpone all activities including language classes admission for few weeks.