World

5 Travel Preparation Tips for the Post-COVID-19 Era

Published

5 years ago

May 12, 2020

The world is waiting for the COVID-19 pandemic to come to an end so that we can all return to our lives as we used to know it, particularly to visit fascinating and exotic locations.

A lot of people are also waiting for the world to heal so that they can relocate in search of greener pastures.

Whatever your reason for travelling, here are 5 really great travel preparation tips to make your travel as hassle-free as possible.

Do your Research

Research makes things easy when it comes to travelling and, like any committed traveller knows, it is never too soon to begin planning your next trip. In fact, the earlier, the better. That way, should you face any unexpected challenges, you have plenty of time to fix them.

First and foremost, that means ensuring your passport is valid, current and you have everything you need to reach the country you want to visit.

Once you are confident your passport is valid, it’s time to research the city you want to visit. Some of the questions you may include:

· What is the exchange rate in the country you visit?

· Are there any relevant traditions you need to know about?

· Are there some must-see places to visit?

· How is the health situation currently?

These and even other questions will need to be asked, and luckily, almost all the answers you need can be found on various online resources. For example, Ausmove has tons of information that can help plan your Australia move.

Make a List and Double-check it

We recommend that you take it a step further: make a checklist of important travels essentials and review it three times.

The last thing you want is to arrive at the airport, only to find that your passport has been forgotten.

Your list should entail all the essential things you need on your journey, including all the relevant paperwork that will save you hassle. In fact, even the swimwear you will use when relaxing on the beach should be in your checklist.

Not only does a list make sure you pack everything you certainly do need, but it will also keep you from bringing items you won’t need.

Above all, if the weather is scorching hot every day, there is no point in packing three thick jackets. So, when the big day arrives, check your list and be sure you’re 100% positive you’ve got everything you need to make your trip a massive success.

Boost your Immune System

You should speak to a doctor if you have any medical issues before embarking on any trip.

Arranging medical and dental check-ups, if you are going to be gone for a long time, might be a smart idea. Vaccinations should also be reviewed and organised as necessary. If you need an appointment on short notice, consider a house call doctor. They tend to have fewer patients and better schedule flexibility, and lets you utilize the time that would have otherwise been spent in reception at the doctor’s office.

Bear in mind that vaccine courses will take up to a month and you need to prepare for a minimum of a month before you head out.

Anti-malarial treatment should also be obtained from your doctor or a valid medicine source. However, your doctor is the right one to counsel you on buying malaria pills, as well as any medications for any other medical problems you might have.

Also, don’t forget to also carry along a stack of sanitised hand gloves and face masks to stay safe from any corona virus residue.

Check the Weather

The weather is the single factor most likely to have a positive or adverse impact on your journey and one of the factors that many people take for granted most.

Even if It is going to be warm in Australia during your visit, it will not hurt to verify the weather situation before leaving so that you don’t get caught in a bad weather situation. Also, your packing plan should be driven by a weather forecast or else failure to check the weather could well result in tiring and disappointing travel.

Invest in Travel insurance

Last but not least, obtaining travel insurance will form a crucial part of your preparations. Accidents do occur despite our best efforts.

It is life. However, if you fly halfway around the world only to discover that your belongings have been shipped elsewhere, incidents such as these can easily turn into disasters.

It is at these moments that you will be glad you have acquired travel insurance.

It is no exaggeration to say that the difference between a nice, unforgettable trip and a full-blown tragedy may be the travel insurance.

The bulk of travel insurance plans cover such issues as delayed or cancelled flights, stolen, lost or damaged baggage or personal items, and medical expenses.

This is especially important, as not all countries have mutual health-care arrangements with Australia, and travel insurance typically covers more than just your medical care.

Accordingly, travel insurance will give you the peace of mind to enjoy your vacation, secure in the knowledge that in case of an emergency you are certainly protected.

World

TRG Chairman Khaishgi and CEO Aslam implicated in $150 million fraud

Published

6 days ago

June 23, 2025

Jenny Jackson

In a scathing 52-page decision, the Sindh High Court has found that TRG Pakistan’s management was acting fraudulently and that Bermuda-based Greentree Holdings historic and prospective purchase of TRG shares were illegal, fraudulent and oppressive.

The Sindh High Court has further directed TRGP to immediately hold board elections that have been overdue and illegally withheld by the existing board since January 14, 2025.

In the landmark ruling, the Sindh High Court has blocked the attempted takeover of TRG Pakistan Limited by Greentree Holdings, declaring that the shares acquired by Greentree, nearly 30% of TRG’s stock, were unlawfully financed using TRG’s funds in violation of Section 86(2) of the Companies Act 2017.

“Having concluded that the affairs of TRGP are being conducted in an unlawful and fraudulent manner and in a manner oppressive to members such as the Petitioner (Zia Chishti), the case falls for corrective orders under sub-section (2) of section 286 of the Companies Act,” Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry concluded.

The case was brought by TRGP former CEO and founder Pakistani-American technology entrepreneur Zia Chishti against TRG Pakistan, its associate TRG International and TRG International’s wholly-owned shell company Greentree Limited. In addition, the case named AKD Securities for managing Greentree’s illegal tender offer as well as various regulators requiring that they act to perform their regulatory duties.

The case centred around the dispute that shell company Greentree Limited was fraudulently using TRG Pakistan’s own funds to purchase TRG Pakistan’s shares in order to give control to Zia Chishti’s former partners Mohammed Khaishgi, Hasnain Aslam and Pinebridge Investments.

According to the case facts, the Chairman of TRG Pakistan Mohammed Khaishgi and the CEO of TRG Pakistan Hasnain Aslam masterminded the $150 million fraud. They did so together with Hong Kong based fund manager Pinebridge who has two nominees on TRG Pakistan’s board, Mr. John Leone and Mr. Patrick McGinnis.

According to the court papers, Khaishgi, Aslam, Leone, and McGinnis set up a shell company called Greentree which they secretly controlled and from which they started buying up shares of TRG Pakistan. The fraud was that Greentree was using TRG Pakistan’s funds itself. The idea was to give Khaishgi, Aslam, Leone, and McGinnis control over TRG Pakistan even though they owned less than 1% of the company, lawyers of the petitioner told the court.

This was all part of a broader battle for control over TRG Pakistan that is raging between Khaishgi, Aslam, Leone, and McGinnis on one side and TRG Pakistan founder Zia Chishti on the other side. Zia Chishti has been trying to retake control of TRG Pakistan after he was forced to resign in 2021 based on sexual misconduct allegations made by a former employee of his. This year those allegations were shown to be without basis in litigation that Chishti launched in the United Kingdom against The Telegraph newspaper which had printed the allegations. The Telegraph was forced to apologize for 13 separate articles it published about Chishti and paid him damages and legal costs.

After Chishti resigned in 2021, Khaishgi, Aslam, Leone, and McGinnis moved to take total control over TRG Pakistan and its various subsidiaries including TRG International and to block out Chishti. The Sindh High Court’s ruling today has reversed that effort, ruling the scheme fraudulent, illegal, and oppressive.

It now appears that Zia Chishti will take control of TRG Pakistan in short order when elections are called. He and his family are now the largest shareholders with over 30% interest. He is closely followed by companies related to Jahangir Siddiqui & Company which have over a 20% interest. The result appears to be a complete vindication for Zia Chishti and damning for his rivals Aslam, Khaishgi, Leone, and McGinnis who have been ruled to have been conducting a fraud.

TRG Pakistan’s share price declined by over 8% on the news on heavy volume. Market experts say that this was because the tender offer at Rs 75 was gone and that now shares would trade closer to their natural value. Presently the shares are trading at Rs 59 per share.

According to the court ruling, since 2021, shell company Greentree had purchased approximately 30% of TRG shares using $80 million of TRG’s own money, which means that that the directors of TRG Pakistan allowed company assets to be funneled through offshore affiliates TRG International and Greentree for acquiring TRG’s shares – a move deemed both fraudulent and oppressive to minority shareholders. The Sindh High Court also found illegal Greentree’s further attempt to purchase another 35% of TRG shares using another $70 million of TRG’s money in a tender offer.

The ruling is a major victory for the tech entrepreneur Zia Chishti against his former partners and the legal ruling paves the way for him to take control of TRG in a few weeks.