Thai Fuel Prices Projected To Remain Elevated Until Fourth Quarter

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is holding nationwide demonstrations on Friday against the petroleum levy, rising fuel prices and inflation. The party has announced protests and sit-ins in major cities and districts across the country. Demonstrations are scheduled to begin at 4pm. According to the party, protests will be held along hundreds of major roads and highways in around 170 districts. Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Peshawar, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi are among the cities where demonstrations have been planned. Several major locations have also been selected for sit-ins. These include Qurtaba Chowk in Lahore, Stop No. 26 in Islamabad, Mian Ghundi Chowk in Quetta and the Toll Plaza in Peshawar. Other protest points include Bosan Road in Multan, the Indus Highway in Karak, CPEC Chowk in Bannu and the Chakdara interchange. JI leaders have warned that the protest campaign could be expanded if authorities attempt to prevent the demonstrations. The party said the number of roads and highways involved could increase significantly. In Karachi, JI leaders said protest caravans would begin moving from several locations at 4pm. These include Shahrah-e-Pakistan, Hub Road, National Highway, Super Highway, Orangi, Korangi, Pakistan Chowk and Sher Shah. The caravans are expected to gather at Mazar-e-Quaid before moving towards Shahrah-e-Faisal. Karachi JI chief Monem Zafar Khan said the demonstrations would continue until the petroleum levy was withdrawn. He said roads along some protest routes could remain closed during the demonstrations. He added that emergency vehicles, including ambulances, would be allowed to pass. JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman had called for the nationwide action a day earlier. In a video message, he urged citizens to join the peaceful demonstrations and asked motorists to park their cars and motorcycles on roads at 4pm. The JI leadership has criticised the government over fuel-related taxes and the rising cost of essential goods. The party says ordinary citizens are facing increasing financial pressure because of higher fuel prices and indirect taxation. Hafiz Naeem also claimed that prices of several food items had increased over the past month. He said motorcycle users and other low-income citizens were particularly affected by higher fuel costs. The JI chief argued that people who do not fall within the formal income-tax system are also paying taxes through fuel levies and other indirect charges. He claimed the government collected around Rs1.9 trillion through the petroleum levy during the past year. The party has warned that further taxation could increase the burden on households if the government does not reconsider its policies. JI leaders are calling on citizens to participate in the protests and press the government to withdraw the petroleum levy

Saudi Arabia has introduced mandatory Nusuk food vouchers for Umrah pilgrims from Pakistan and three other countries, introducing a new requirement that is expected to increase the cost of Umrah travel packages. Under the new policy, every eligible Umrah pilgrim will be required to purchase a food voucher valued at around 20 Saudi riyals per day. The amount will be added directly to the total Umrah visa fee, making it a compulsory part of the application process rather than an optional service. The decision is likely to affect thousands of Pakistanis planning to perform Umrah in the coming months. Travel operators believe the additional cost will increase the overall price of Umrah packages, especially for families and groups traveling for several days. Following the announcement, travel agencies in Pakistan and the other affected countries have started reviewing their existing Umrah packages. Many are expected to revise their prices to reflect the additional charges introduced under the new regulations. Industry representatives said tour operators will also update package details to ensure pilgrims are fully informed about the revised costs before making their bookings. They added that the inclusion of the food voucher in the visa fee will require agencies to adjust their pricing structures accordingly. The food vouchers will be issued through Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk system, the Kingdom’s official digital platform for Umrah services. The initiative is aimed at improving the organization of services provided to pilgrims and ensuring access to designated meal facilities during their stay. Saudi Arabia has introduced several reforms in recent years to modernize Umrah and Hajj services through digital platforms and standardized procedures. The latest measure is part of those broader efforts to enhance the overall experience for pilgrims while improving the management of religious tourism.

Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of eight mountaineers following the devastating avalanche on Broad Peak, while the search continues for two missing climbers. Another victim has been identified, but the body remains trapped in an area that rescuers have so far been unable to reach. Speaking to the media, the President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan described the incident as one of the deadliest accidents in the history of Broad Peak. He said a total of 11 climbers are believed to have been caught in the avalanche, triggering a large-scale rescue operation. He said the first phase of the operation began immediately after the incident. On the opening day, rescuers recovered the bodies of two climbers and also found partial human remains believed to belong to another victim. According to the Alpine Club, the first two recovered victims were a Nepalese mountaineer and a female climber from Oman. Rescue operations were carried out under extremely difficult weather and terrain conditions at high altitude. The Pakistan Army assisted the mission by providing helicopters to transport rescue teams and airlift the recovered bodies from the remote mountain. The aerial support played a key role in speeding up the recovery process. The Alpine Club president said that during the latest phase of the operation, the bodies of four Nepalese climbers and one Chinese mountaineer were successfully recovered and transported from the mountain. He added that rescuers have also identified another climber’s body. However, it is located in an inaccessible area, making immediate recovery impossible because of dangerous terrain and the continued risk of avalanches. Search teams are still looking for the remaining two missing climbers. Rescue officials said every effort is being made to locate them despite severe weather, snow-covered slopes and difficult mountain conditions. The tragedy has shocked Pakistan’s mountaineering community and highlighted the dangers faced by climbers attempting to scale some of the world’s highest peaks. Broad Peak, located in the Karakoram mountain range, is one of Pakistan’s tallest mountains and attracts climbers from around the world each year.