Author: Admin

Rising UAE Visa Rejections Leave Pakistanis Frustrated as Islamabad, Abu Dhabi Offer Conflicting Signals

Admin
UAE-visa

When Nadeem, a 28-year-old marketing professional from Lahore, planned his first leisure trip to Dubai, he expected a seamless process. Instead, his visit visa was rejected twice — first in January, then again in November — leaving him confused and stuck in a cycle many Pakistani travellers now find familiar. His travel agent blamed heightened scrutiny for applicants “under 40”, a claim that deepened his frustration. “I’m employed, I submitted everything. My friend, a freelancer, got it on the first attempt,” he said, adding that his third application is still…

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Nepra Fines National Grid Rs10m for Failing to Improve Jhimpir Network

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NEPRA-Office

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has imposed a Rs10 million fine on the National Grid Company (NGC) after finding serious lapses in network development, manpower deployment and safety standards in Sindh’s Jhimpir region. The fine was approved by a three-to-one majority of the authority. The decision follows 41 months of legal proceedings, including an investigation, show-cause notice and multiple hearings. According to Nepra’s order issued on Thursday, a May 2022 inspection found that the 220/132kV grid stations in the Jhimpir area were still under construction yet energised,…

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‘Governance Failures Erode Investor Confidence’: PM’s Privatisation Adviser

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Muhammad-Ali

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali has said that persistent governance failures — not a shortage of investment opportunities — are the key reason investor confidence in Pakistan remains weak. Speaking on “Privatisation and Private Sector Participation” on the final day of the Pakistan Business Council’s economic dialogue on Thursday, Mr Ali, who also heads the Privatisation Commission, stressed that Pakistan must ensure legal consistency, market-driven decision-making, and stronger regulatory capacity to attract investors. He noted that although regulator appointments follow formal processes, these systems still…

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Pakistan’s Fuel Oil Exports Hit Record High in 2025 as Domestic Demand Declines

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New-Oil-1

SINGAPORE: Pakistan’s fuel oil exports surged to a historic high in 2025, driven by rising domestic taxes and a growing shift by power producers toward cleaner and cheaper energy alternatives, industry sources reported. Fresh shipping data from Kpler and LSEG shows Pakistan’s annual fuel oil exports have already exceeded 1.4 million tonnes (about 8.9 million barrels), marking a 16% increase over full-year 2024 exports. LSEG data places 2025 exports at 1.33 million tonnes so far, up from 1.11 million tonnes last year — the highest level ever recorded. Most cargoes…

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Govt Moves to Ease Regulatory Hurdles for Reko Diq, Saindak Operations: Petroleum Minister

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Reko-Diq

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik announced on Thursday that the government is working to streamline conditions for companies operating the Reko Diq and Saindak mining projects, enabling them to function more effectively in remote and infrastructure-deficient regions. Speaking at a Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) session titled “Unlocking Pakistan’s Untapped Mining Resources for National Wealth,” the minister said a key challenge is that mineral resources fall under provincial jurisdiction. This has resulted in multiple and often conflicting sets of laws, rules, and licensing frameworks that investors must navigate across…

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