LAHORE, July 28: The Royal Thai Consulate General Office in Lahore has been closed after the removal of the honorary consul-general by the embassy.

Sources in the interior ministry said on Friday that the Thai Embassy in Islamabad had stripped Zia Haider Rizvi of power to issue visas several months ago after receiving some “serious” complaints against him. Mr Rizvi remained honorary counsel-general of Thailand for more than a decade.

Before Mr Rizvi’s removal, his office was receiving about 30 visa applications daily.

The closure of the consulate means that Lahorites will have to contact the Thai embassy in Islamabad for visas.

The sources said that Mr Rizvi had not been enjoying good relations with the Thai ambassador for quite sometime. An influential industrialist having business interests in Thailand was said to be instrumental in getting him removed from the post.

Thai Ambassador Wichai Sirisjun could not be contacted for comments while Mr Rizvi refused to say anything on the issue.