Major Fuel Smuggling Ring Exposed at Chiang Rai-Myanmar Border

Pakistani business leaders have raised concerns over reported difficulties in obtaining UAE visas, warning that the situation is disrupting trade, business travel and export activities. The restrictions are causing uncertainty among Pakistani exporters and traders who regularly travel to the UAE for commercial meetings, exhibitions and other business activities. Ismail Suttar, Founder and Chairman of the Salt Manufacturers Association of Pakistan, said Pakistani citizens were facing serious difficulties in obtaining UAE visas. He said the reasons for the reported restrictions had not been clearly communicated. Business representatives said the issue was particularly worrying for companies with established operations in Dubai. Several Pakistani businessmen have offices and long-standing commercial interests in the UAE. Some business owners have also reportedly faced difficulties travelling to the UAE to visit their families. Representatives of the business community said repeated visa rejections had created considerable uncertainty. A member of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the matter had been formally raised with UAE authorities. A letter was sent to the UAE consul general on June 11, followed by another communication on July 7. The business community says the visa situation could also affect Pakistan’s participation in major international exhibitions. Gulfood, one of the major food and beverage exhibitions held in Dubai, is a particular concern. Pakistani food companies are preparing for the upcoming event, but exporters fear that their sales teams may not receive visas. Business leaders say participation in such exhibitions is important for finding international buyers and expanding exports. Without visas, company representatives cannot display products, hold meetings or negotiate new deals. They warned that prolonged travel restrictions could affect Pakistan’s efforts to increase exports and strengthen commercial ties with international markets. Former Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Secretary General Shahid Anwar said visa conditions for Pakistanis differed across Gulf countries. He noted that some Gulf states had introduced measures that made travel easier for Pakistani citizens. Saudi Arabia has included Pakistan in a package-based tourist visa programme, while Kuwait has restored several visa categories for Pakistani nationals. According to Anwar, these developments indicate improving engagement in some bilateral relationships. The situation with the UAE, however, remains unclear. UAE authorities have maintained that there is no general visa ban on Pakistanis and that applications across different categories continue to be processed. Business representatives, however, say their experiences do not always match the official position. Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Usman Shaukat said several chamber members with established businesses in the UAE were facing visa problems. Some businessmen have long-standing commercial links and property interests in the UAE. Despite this, they have reportedly struggled to obtain visas. The difficulties have resulted in cancelled meetings and missed international exhibitions, according to business representatives. They said the impact was being felt not only in Rawalpindi but also among business communities in Karachi, Lahore and other major commercial centres. Travel industry representatives have also reported a significant decline in movement between Pakistan and the UAE. Aviation consultant Wahid Mukhtar said travel to the UAE had been badly affected by visa difficulties. He said family and visit visa applications were also facing high rejection rates. He added that labour visa holders continued to travel, while holidaymakers were increasingly choosing destinations such as Azerbaijan and Tashkent. Qatar has also changed its visa arrangements for Pakistani travellers, according to travel industry representatives. The reported restrictions are also affecting Pakistanis travelling for medical and health-related activities. Masood Ahmed said some applicants below the age of 40 were facing difficulties in obtaining Dubai visas, even when they had supporting letters. He said older applicants were experiencing comparatively fewer problems. Some younger applicants had previously been approved when travelling with family during major health exhibitions. Business leaders have urged the Pakistani government to intervene diplomatically. They want Islamabad to engage with UAE authorities and seek clarity on the visa situation.

Islamabad:Pakistan has preferential trade arrangements with 93 countries. Its trade promotion authority participated in 91 international exhibitions and sent 11 trade delegations abroad in the last financial year, yet the country still has no registered Pakistani trade representative organisation or joint chamber in China. The absence of a formal Pakistani commercial organisation in China became a major point of concern before the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, as senators questioned why Pakistan has not established a stronger private sector trade presence in one of its most important international markets. The committee, chaired by Senator Anusha Rahman, was told that no Pakistani joint chamber is currently registered in China and no Pakistani trade representative organisation is operating there. The Secretary Commerce said a Pakistani chamber could be established in China either as a joint chamber or as a branch, but it would have to meet the requirements set by Chinese authorities. He further explained that only one joint chamber from Pakistan could register itself in China under the relevant arrangements. Senators questioned why such an organisation had not been established despite the large scale business relationship between Pakistan and China. The Secretary Commerce said the reason could best be explained by the trade organisations themselves. The issue became more important when senators asked what real benefit Pakistan would gain from establishing a joint chamber or representative office. The Secretary Commerce said the Ministry of Commerce could not give a clear position on the matter and suggested that the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and other chambers should provide their views. He said Pakistani private sector organisations could establish a chamber in major Chinese commercial centres such as Beijing or Shanghai, while the Ministry of Commerce would provide full support to interested chambers if they fulfilled Chinese requirements. Senator Anusha Rahman said a chamber could help Pakistani companies follow up more effectively on commercial opportunities in China. The discussion exposed a gap between Pakistan’s growing trade ambitions and its physical commercial presence in an important foreign market. The committee also examined the performance of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and its efforts to increase exports. The Chief Executive of TDAP said the authority was often blamed whenever Pakistan’s exports failed to grow, but export performance depended on several factors beyond the authority’s direct control. He pointed to production costs, electricity prices and the cost of financing as major factors affecting the ability of Pakistani businesses to compete in international markets. This means that simply sending trade delegations or participating in international exhibitions cannot guarantee higher exports if Pakistani products remain expensive to produce. The Commerce Minister, Jam Kamal Khan, told the committee that the Ministry of Commerce regularly sends policy proposals and recommendations to the government to improve the country’s trade environment. He said he had also proposed to the Prime Minister that reciprocal incentives should be pursued to increase exports. The minister said the Ministry of Commerce was working on new proposals to improve international marketing and increase Pakistani exports. He stressed that Pakistan could not become more competitive in international markets without dealing with the underlying costs faced by businesses and improving the investment environment. The figures presented by TDAP showed that the authority remained active in promoting Pakistani products abroad. During the last financial year, TDAP participated in 91 international exhibitions. The authority also organised or supported 11 trade delegations to foreign countries to search for new markets and strengthen business connections. Pakistan currently has preferential trade arrangements with 93 countries, giving Pakistani businesses access to special trade opportunities in international markets. However, the Senate committee stressed that trade agreements and international relationships must produce visible economic results. Members said Pakistan’s trade agreements should not remain only on paper. They should lead to higher exports, more investment and greater access for Pakistani businesses in foreign markets. The Chief Executive TDAP also clarified an important point about the authority’s financing. TDAP does not receive funding from the Export Development Fund. Instead, it receives government financing for specific projects. The committee also discussed the importance of stronger cooperation between Pakistani and Chinese institutions and private sector organisations. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla highlighted the role that Chinese international cooperation and trade specialists could play in developing stronger business and investment links. The discussion suggested that Pakistan needs to connect several areas of economic policy instead of treating export promotion as a separate activity. Lower production costs, cheaper and reliable electricity, easier access to finance, stronger investment policies, better international marketing and effective trade representation are all important if Pakistani companies are to compete successfully abroad. TDAP’s participation in 91 international exhibitions and 11 foreign trade delegations shows that the authority is actively trying to open doors for Pakistani exporters. But the Senate discussion also made clear that opening doors is only the first step. Pakistan must ensure that its businesses are able to walk through those doors with competitive products, attractive prices and the capacity to supply international buyers. The committee appreciated TDAP’s efforts but stressed the need for a coordinated national strategy linking trade policy, investment, industrial competitiveness, export promotion and overseas market representation.

ISLAMABAD: A laboratory assessment has found that 176 out of 491 samples of packaged edible oil, ghee and milk failed to meet national quality standards. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Planning, a total of 491 samples of packaged cooking oil, ghee and milk products were tested. Of these, 315 samples were found to comply with national standards, while 176 were declared substandard. The ministry said approximately 36% of the tested samples failed to meet the required quality standards. The assessment showed significant variations across different products. Of the 204 samples of vanaspati ghee tested, 98 were found to be below the required standards. Similarly, 40 out of 146 samples of blended cooking oil failed the quality assessment, while 26 of 104 samples of packaged liquid milk were declared substandard. The report also found quality concerns in milk powder, refined palm oil and refined canola oil. Eight of the 18 milk powder samples failed to meet national standards, while three of four refined palm oil samples were found to be substandard. In the case of refined canola oil, one out of 13 tested samples did not meet the required standards. The findings have highlighted concerns over the quality of commonly consumed food products and the need for stronger monitoring and enforcement to ensure that packaged edible oils, ghee and dairy products available in the market comply with national quality requirements.