SEOUL - Korea might end the suspension against issuing short-term visas to Chinese nationals earlier than planned as the Covid situation seems to be normalizing.
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on Tuesday that the decision to do away with the suspension comes as the Covid-19 situation in China appears to be stabilizing.
The agency's director Jee Young-mee told newsmen that the mandatory PCR testing for all arrivals from China and Q-CODE uploads will continue throughout February as planned earlier.
"Although the official data has not been released yet, it is certain that the Covid-19 situation in China has significantly stabilized and is on a downward trend, according to various local sources," Jee said in a press meeting.
"New variations have not turned up, and the increase after the Lunar New Year holiday is close to none," the official added.
"Covid-19 may as well be a virus that will stick around for a very long time, or even forever, but it is clear that we can see the end of a very long tunnel," the KDCA director highlighted with hope and added that this year will be Korea's first year to return to normalcy.
South Korea had suspended short-term visa applications from its consulates in China until the end of January. Seoul also required people traveling from China to take a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival and remain in isolation until receiving negative results.
Moreover, from January 5, South Korea had also asked people traveling from China to present a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure or a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours.
"Our government's public health measures for those coming from China are actions based on scientific and objective evidence," South Korea's foreign ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk had said at a briefing.
In response, Chinese authorities had also stopped issuing short-term visas to South Korean citizens in the backdrop of Covid restrictions imposed against China.
Pakistani rupee saw marginal improvement against US dollar as it appreciated in the open bank market.
On Thursday, the US dollar moved up and was being quoted at 285.3 for buying and 288.15 for selling.
Euro moves down to 311 for buying and 314 for selling. British Pound rate stands at 358.5 for buying, and 361.5 for selling.
UAE Dirham AED stands at 78 whereas the Saudi Riyal rate stands at 76.20.
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
US Dollar | USD | 285.3 | 288.15 |
Euro | EUR | 311 | 314 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 358.5 | 361.5 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 78 | 78.7 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 76.2 | 77 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 187.2 | 189 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 759.67 | 767.67 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 209 | 211 |
China Yuan | CNY | 39.58 | 39.98 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 41.38 | 41.78 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 36.63 | 36.98 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.39 | 3.5 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 1.49 | 1.56 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 926.7 | 935.7 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 60.38 | 60.98 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 173.44 | 175.44 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.25 | 26.55 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 741.26 | 749.26 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 77.63 | 78.33 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 211 | 213 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 26.93 | 27.23 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 325.9 | 328.4 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 8.23 | 8.38 |
KARACHI – The gold price continues to climb up in the local market in line of upward trend in international market.
On Thursday, the single tola of 24 Karat gold was available at Rs218,600, and the price for 10-gram gold reached Rs187,420.
Meanwhile, the 22 Karat Gold price stands at Rs200,380, 21 karat rate for each tola is Rs191,275 and 18k gold rate hoveres around Rs163,950.
In international market, the price of precious metal hovers around $2,045 per ounce.
City | Gold | Silver |
Lahore | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Karachi | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Islamabad | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Peshawar | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Quetta | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Sialkot | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Attock | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Gujranwala | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Jehlum | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Multan | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Bahawalpur | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Gujrat | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Nawabshah | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Chakwal | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Hyderabad | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Nowshehra | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Sargodha | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Faisalabad | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
Mirpur | PKR 218,600 | PKR 2,675 |
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