Thai Fuel Prices Jump by Six Baht per Litre as Government Ends Subsidies

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has resumed issuing visit visas to Pakistani citizens applying through registered travel agents, ending months of uncertainty for travelers and offering fresh hope to families, tourists and business visitors. The move has been confirmed by travel industry representatives and a UAE Embassy official, who said visit visas for holders of ordinary Pakistani passports are once again being processed through authorized travel agencies. The resumption comes after months of delays, stricter scrutiny and a higher rejection rate that had created difficulties for thousands of Pakistani applicants. Although UAE authorities repeatedly maintained that no blanket ban had been imposed on Pakistani nationals, many travelers experienced lengthy processing times and uncertainty over visa approvals. Travel experts say the biggest improvement has been seen in family applications. Pakistani citizens traveling with family members or visiting relatives in the UAE are reportedly receiving faster responses than before, reflecting a more streamlined processing system. Officials from the travel industry also noted that tourism-related bookings have started to recover as confidence returns. Passenger traffic between Pakistan and Dubai, which had dropped significantly during recent regional tensions and stricter visa checks, has begun to increase in recent weeks, although it remains below previous peak levels. Applicants seeking a UAE visit visa are advised to apply only through registered travel agents and ensure all required documents are complete. A valid passport, recent photographs, proof of accommodation or an invitation from a host, return travel arrangements and evidence of sufficient financial resources are among the documents generally required for processing. Industry representatives believe applicants with complete and genuine documentation are more likely to receive approvals, while family applications currently appear to have stronger prospects.

KARACHI: An underground oil pipeline developed a leak on Khayaban-e-Sehar, Street 13, in Karachi’s Defence area, causing crude oil to spill onto the road. According to police, the leakage resulted in crude oil spreading across the affected section of the road. The road has been closed to traffic as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety and facilitate repair work. A DHA vigilance team reached the site after being informed about the incident. The relevant authorities were also alerted and teams were deployed to assess the situation. Police said the pipeline is quite old and runs beneath the middle of the road. The National Refinery stopped the supply through the affected line after the leakage was reported and immediately began repair work. Officials are currently working to repair the damaged pipeline and control the oil leakage. Traffic restrictions will remain in place until the repair work is completed and the affected road is considered safe for motorists and pedestrians. No casualties or injuries have been reported in connection with the incident so far.

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad has granted police another seven days of physical remand of Saad Abbasi, who is accused of killing Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Group Captain Asim Tariq. Abbasi was produced before the court on Monday after completing his initial seven-day physical remand. ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard the case. The prosecution requested an additional 15 days of physical remand to continue the investigation. Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kayani told the court that police had recovered the pistol allegedly used in the killing. He said the suspect had allegedly concealed the weapon after the incident. The prosecution also informed the court that investigators had yet to recover the suspect’s mobile phone. Police said the phone could provide further information relevant to the investigation. After hearing arguments from the prosecution, the court reserved its decision on the remand request. The court later approved seven more days of physical remand. Abbasi was handed back to police custody for further investigation. The court directed police to produce the suspect before it again after the completion of the additional remand period. The case relates to the death of Group Captain Asim Tariq in Islamabad on July 5. According to the investigation, the PAF officer intervened when the suspect allegedly attempted to forcibly take a woman away. The situation reportedly escalated after Tariq intervened. The suspect allegedly opened fire, and the officer was struck by a bullet. Tariq succumbed to his injuries and was later declared a martyr. Islamabad police arrested Abbasi within nine hours of the incident. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Police are also working to recover the suspect’s mobile phone and gather additional evidence.

British-Pakistani filmmaker Seemab Gul’s award-winning film Ghost School has been denied certification by the Sindh Board of Certification, preventing its theatrical release in the province where the film is set. The decision has sparked discussion about artistic expression, girls’ education and the portrayal of social issues through cinema. Gul has appealed to the Sindh Board to reconsider its decision. She said the film was made from a child’s perspective and aims to encourage audiences to think about education and the challenges faced by children. The filmmaker said she had asked the board to explain the reason for refusing certification but had not received an explanation. Despite the decision in Sindh, Ghost School has already gained recognition at several international film festivals. The film won the Best Director award at the UK Asian Film Festival. It also premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received a nomination in a major competition category. It was later screened at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah. The film also received an honourable mention at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and secured a special award at the Asian, African and Latin American Film Festival. The film follows 10-year-old Rabia, who tries to understand why the only school in her rural village has stopped operating. Through the young girl’s journey, the story examines barriers to girls’ education, resilience and problems within publicly funded schools. The film focuses on the issue of so-called “ghost schools”. These are schools that exist officially but are no longer functioning properly as educational institutions. Gul explained that some such schools were never fully completed. They may lack basic facilities such as doors, windows, water, electricity or gas. In other cases, she said, schools were completed and teachers initially worked there, but operations eventually stopped. The filmmaker described the issue as a serious challenge in Pakistan, where millions of children remain outside the formal education system. Gul said the film was not intended simply to highlight a problem. Instead, she wanted to tell the story through a child’s eyes and encourage discussion about access to education. The refusal to certify the film in Sindh has therefore raised broader questions about whether filmmakers should be able to explore sensitive social issues through cinema. Gul has urged the provincial certification authority to review its decision and allow audiences to watch the film.