Tag: Dubai

  • Global oil prices rise amid supply concerns

    Global oil prices rise amid supply concerns

    Oil prices increased on April 20, swamped by fears about tightening supply as the European Union (EU) considers a possible ban on Russian oil imports, which would further impede global oil commerce.

    After reaching a high of $109.80, Brent oil futures finished up $1.53 to close at $108.33 a barrel. After earlier reaching a high of $105.42, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures ended up $1.60, or 1.6 per cent, at $103.79.

    Consumers also reacted to continued disruptions in Libya, where blockades at major fields and export terminals have resulted in a loss of about 550,000 barrels per day of oil supply.

    Brent has climbed about 8 per cent in the last seven days of trading, but the advance has been calm and steady, unlike the frenzy that surrounded Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February and again in mid-March.

    Last week, US crude exports increased to more than 4 million barrels per day, slightly countering Russian crude losses caused by US and European bans.

    Read more: Pakistani rupee plunges by Rs1.05 against the US dollar

    The oil market is still constrained, with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its affiliates, led by Russia, striving to achieve output commitments and US crude inventories plunging dramatically in the week ending April 15.

  • Pakistanis can now stay for 60 days in Dubai on a tourist visa

    United Arab Emirates (UAE) has now allowed Pakistanis to stay for 60 days on a tourist visa as a standard policy from September. It will facilitate people who intend to stay for a long break in the country.

    The country also provides another visa type for job seekers that is called ‘ a job exploration entry visa ‘ which allows people to explore job opportunities in the region.

    The UAE government media office said, “Major improvements include facilitating the entry requirements for all visa types, offering flexible visa durations that meet the needs of the visitors and the purpose of the visit,” will be implemented.

    “In addition, all entry visas are available for single or multiple entry, can be renewed for similar periods, and are valid for 60 days from their issuance date.”

    In the past, UAE had a standard 30-days visa on arrival for many nations including Britain, America, and Australia. People who overstayed were given a nine-day grace period to return to their countries. Otherwise, they were subjected to fines that amounted to 200 dirhams for the first day and 100 dirhams for each consecutive day.

    Nations that do not have a visa on arrival policy such as India and Pakistan have to arrange for a visa through a travel agency before arrival in the UAE.

  • PTI’s Shahzad Akbar leaves for Dubai after name removed from ‘no-fly list’

    PTI’s Shahzad Akbar leaves for Dubai after name removed from ‘no-fly list’

    Special Assistant to former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar left for Dubai on Sunday after his name was removed from the FIA’s ‘stop-list’ on the order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

    According to Express Tribune, Akhbar departed via Islamabad International Airport for Dubai on an international airline at 3:30 am, from where he is expected to depart for the United Kingdom (UK).

    Last week, the FIA had put names of four Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members including former aides — Shahzad Akbar and Shahbaz Gill on “no-fly list.”

    However, on April 12 the Islamabad High Court suspended the notification. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the court has already declared the blacklist illegal.

    He said, “We have already issued a verdict that no one’s name can be placed on this list.”

    IHC also suspended the ban on three other persons— former principal secretary Azam Khan, Khan’s ex-focal person on Digital Media Dr Arslan Khalid and Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment Chairman Mohammad Nafees Gohar.

  • Who will be next PCB chairperson after Ramiz Raja resigns?

    Who will be next PCB chairperson after Ramiz Raja resigns?

    The incumbent Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairperson Ramiz Raja is likely to quit from the position following the defeat of Former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a no-confidence motion on Sunday, reports SAMAA.

    Former Captain Ramiz Raja was elected unanimously as the 36th PCB chairman for a three-year term in September 2021.

    According to a report by Cricket Pakistan, Ramiz Raja is currently in Dubai for the International Cricket Council (ICC) board meeting. During the meeting, he shared his proposal for a four-nation T20 series ( Pakistan, India, Australia, England) which is rejected because it could not fit in the next media cycles due to the packed Future Tour Program (FTP).

    However, Ramiz Raja expressed his satisfaction with how the meeting underwent through his Twitter account.

    News reports claim that Ramiz is expected to quit his office and former PCB chairperson Najam Sethi is expected to become the next head of PCB.

    Najam Sethi served in 2013 as head of PCB. However, he faced a legal battle with Chaudhry Muhammad Zaka Ashraf, another former chairperson of PCB. He later took up the position again in 2014 but Shahryar Khan replaced him and Sethi was given the charge of the executive committee.

    In 2017, he was appointed again as PCB chairperson but after one year he soon gave up his position in 2018.

    Najam Sethi was the person who launched the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2016 and was the president of PSL at that time.

  • Gold loses shine, price drops by Rs2,000 to Rs132,300 per tola

    Gold loses shine, price drops by Rs2,000 to Rs132,300 per tola

    Gold prices fell sharply in the local market on April 8, following the US dollar’s loss of value versus the rupee.

    The price of precious yellow metal dropped by Rs2,000 to Rs132,300 a tola (11.66 grams). Similarly, the cost of 10 grammes of gold decreased by Rs1,715 to Rs113,426. On the flip side, it jumped from $6 to $1,933 per ounce (28.3 gram) on the global market.

    The yellow metal in Karachi is reportedly selling for as low as Rs129,400, while 10 grams is being sold at Rs110,940. This rate for 24K gold announced by the Sarafa Bazar Association is also followed by the majority of gold markets in cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Karachi.

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR) gained Rs3.50 yesterday against the US dollar, making it the greatest single-day gain since April 2020. The local currency is currently trading at Rs184.68.

    During inter-day trading on April 7, the domestic unit crossed the Rs189 threshold, notwithstanding the political uncertainty. However, following a Rs2.5 depreciation, it concluded at Rs188.18.

    The gold correction had been overdue for a long time, since the political turmoil had created widespread panic, and individuals were transferring their capital to gold, as various rules had made it difficult for everyone to buy dollars.

  • Umar Gul appointed Afghanistan’s bowling coach

    Umar Gul appointed Afghanistan’s bowling coach

    Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has appointed Umar Gul as a coach for a short period.

    He will join Afghanistan camp in Dubai from April 4. He will work with the newly appointed Head Coach Graham Thorpe.

    Gul is a former pacer who has previously been associated with Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators as a bowling coach.

    He has also worked in Kashmir Premier League (KPL) and in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) with Galle Gladiators.

    He is appointed for a short period but it will be extended after his performance.

  • Voting on no-confidence motion expected on April 3 or 4 : Sheikh Rasheed

    Voting on no-confidence motion expected on April 3 or 4 : Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that voting on the no-confidence motion against oust Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will take place on April 3 or 4.

    The federal minister’s comments came during a press conference.

    The interior minister said that everyone is allowed to hold public gatherings in Islamabad; however, according to the directions by the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP), no one will be allowed to enter the Red Zone.

    The minister also announced that Pakistan People’s Party MNA Jam Abdul Karim would be arrested upon arrival in Pakistan as he is nominated in the Nazim Jhokhio murder case. “He is coming to cast his vote from Dubai. I have directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and talked with IG Sindh. We will arrest him and hand him over to the Sindh police,” said Rasheed.

    Rasheed said that the suspect is being brought to Pakistan from Dubai without obtaining bail ahead of voting on the no-trust motion against PM Khan. “This shows that their [Opposition’s] legs are trembling,” he added. 

    Taking a jibe at the Opposition, he said that they are “fools” because they played a major role in the popularity of Imran Khan.

    It is pertinent to mention here that National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser adjourned NA session on the vote of no-confidence motion till Monday (March 28).

  • Did Gen Pervez Musharraf meet Indian actor Sanjay Dutt?

    Did Gen Pervez Musharraf meet Indian actor Sanjay Dutt?

    Former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf met Bollywood icon, Sanjay Dutt.

    In a picture doing the rounds on social media, many suggested that the meeting took place at a gym in a Gulf state, but it could not be verified independently.

    In the picture, the former president, who lives in Dubai, is seen in a wheelchair while Dutt is pointing towards something.

    General (retd) Pervez Musharraf flew to Dubai for medical treatment after a three-year travel ban was lifted in 2016.

  • Two men arrested for smuggling money in Quetta

    Two men arrested for smuggling money in Quetta

    Two men were arrested by the police at Quetta International Airport for attempting to smuggle money to Dubai. The suspects made a failed attempt to smuggle 171,500 Saudi Riyal (Rs8 million) to Dubai, Samaa has reported.

    They were trying to smuggle the money through a private airline. The investigation was carried out by the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cybercrime circle.

    An FIR has been registered against Sami Ullah and Naimat Ullah and they have been moved to jail. The money has been seized by the police.

    Only a certain amount of money is allowed to be carried by overseas travellers under the law.

  • UAE to ease covid-19 restrictions for Pakistanis travelling to Dubai

    UAE to ease covid-19 restrictions for Pakistanis travelling to Dubai

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is planning to ease Covid-19 travel restrictions for Pakistanis with regards to Covid-19 restrictions. Passengers travelling to Dubai will no longer be required to show reports of a rapid antigen test upon their arrival.

    Passengers arriving from Pakistan must have:

    • A valid negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate with a QR code linked to the original report for verification purposes, for a test conducted within 48 hours. Validity should be calculated from the time the sample was collected, prior to departure from an approved health facility.
    • A rapid COVID‑19 PCR test report with a QR code for a test conducted at the departure airport within six hours of departure.

    There are specific requirements for passengers travelling to Dubai airport though. They still have to undergo another PCR test and quarantine, on arrival to the UAE until they test negative.

    Meanwhile, travelers transiting through Dubai won’t be required to show a negative PCR test unless it is mandated by their final destination. Passengers must also obtain a negative PCR test received within 48 hours.