29 permits issued to Gulf states royal families for houbara bustard hunting
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KARACHI: The federal government has issued at least 29 special permits to royal family members of the Gulf states — the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and the Kingdom of Bahrain — for hunting the internationally protected houbara bustard in Pakistan, it emerged on Saturday.
Pakistan is a signatory to various international nature conservation agreements that call for protection of rare species and national laws also ban houbara bustard hunting, yet special permits are issued to foreigners in violation of local laws and international commitments.
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Sources said the government went back on the commitment it made last year that “Pakistan will observe a moratorium on hunting during the 2014-15 season to replenish houbara bustard stocks”.
The permit holders had even been informed about it. But after the approval of prime minister Nawaz Sharif, deputy chief of protocol of the foreign office Muazzam Ali issued the permits for the year 2014-15 on Nov 1, 2014.
The sources said that at least one president, one king, one Emir and one ruler besides two crown princes, the father and an uncle of country heads concerned are among those allowed to hunt the internationally protected houbara bustard, meat of which is considered to have aphrodisiac qualities.
The dignitary who has been given the largest area in the three provinces — Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan — is UAE president and Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. As many as 11 permits — the largest number of permits issued to a Gulf state — have been given to members of Qatar’s royal family.
This is the first time that an area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been allocated for houbara hunting.
The federal government has not sent a code of conduct — which mentions number of birds to be hunted, hunting method, whether permit is person specific or not — to provincial wildlife departments, giving a free hand to the Arab sheikhs to hunt as many birds as they can.
Read: Arab royal hunts down 2,100 houbara bustards in three week safari
The move is perhaps aimed at avoiding an embarrassing situation like the one that happened last year when a Balochistan wildlife department report that Saudi prince Fahd had hunted 2,100 houbara bustards, violating the bag limit of 100 birds, created an international uproar after it had been highlighted in the media.
The countries and the names of hunters to whom the special permits have been issued are:
Saudi Arabia
Crown prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud has been allocated districts Dera Bugti, Dera Murad Jamali, Nasirabad; and Jaffarabad and Duki areas in Loralai district in Balochistan. In Punjab, he has been allowed to hunt in Vehari, Multan (tehsil Shujaabad), Mianwali and Sargodha districts.
Governor of Tabuk Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, has been given Awaran and Noshki districts (less Noshki city), Chaghai district (excluding area in the northwest corner of Balochistan located in district Chaghai).
Abu Dhabi
UAE President and Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has been given Sukkur, Ghotki, Nawabshah and Sanghar districts in Sindh; Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Chakwal districts in Punjab; and Zhob, Ormara, Pasni, Gawadar, Kharan (excluding Naag Dara breeding area), Panjgur and Washuk districts in Balochistan.
Deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces and crown prince of Abu Dhabi Gen Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has been given Lehri tehsil in Sibi district (Domki area only).
Deputy prime minister of the UAE Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has been given Khairpur district including Kot Diji (not across Nara Canal).
Ruler’s representative in the western region Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has been given Khairpur Nathanshah tehsil in Dadu district, Gaibi Dero in Larkana, Shahdad Kot district, Khairpur (area across Nara canal), Juhi tehsil and Fareedabad union council in Dadu district. Lehri tehsil of Sibi district (minus Domki area) and Old Katchi and Sani Shoran area in Bolan district in Balochistan.
A member of the ruling family, Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, has been given Qila Saifullah district including Kar Khurassan (less sub-division Muslim Bagh).
Dubai
Vice president and prime minister of the UAE and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum has been allocated Muzaffargarh district in Punjab; and Khuzdar and Lasbella districts and area in the northwest of Balochistan located in Chaghai district.
Deputy ruler of Dubai and finance minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum has been given Bahawalpur district and Fort Abbas tehsil of Bahawalnagar district in Punjab.
Deputy chief of police and general security Dubai and member of the ruling family Maj Gen Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum has been given Umerkot district, Tharparkar district including Mithi and Nagarparkar (minus protected area) in Sindh.
A member of the ruling family, Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al-Maktoum, has been allowed to hunt in Badin district, Jungshahi in Thatta district and Dhabeji in Malir district in Sindh.
Nasir Abdullah Lootah, an employee of the Dubai government, has been given Thatta district excluding Shah Bander and Jung Shahi tehsils in Sindh.
Bahrain
King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa has been allowed to hunt birds in Jamshoro district (Thano Bula Khan, Kotri, Manjhand and Sehwan tehsils).
An uncle of the king, Sheikh Ebrahim bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa, has been given Mastung in Balochistan.
The king’s adviser on defence affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Salman Al-Khalifa has been given Jati tehsil of Thatta district in Sindh.
Commander in chief of defence forces of Bahrain Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa has been given Toisar tehsil of Musakhel district in Balochistan.
A member of the ruling family, Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali Al-Khalifa, has been given Hyderabad district along with Matiari in Sindh. A member of the ruling family, Sheikh Mohammad bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, has been given Malir district excluding Malir cantonment and Dhabeji areas.
Qatar
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has been given Jacobabad district in Sindh and Khushab district in Punjab.
His father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, has been allowed to hunt the protected houbara bustard in Bahawalnagar district excluding Fort Abbas tehsil in Punjab.
A brother of the Qatar Emir, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, has been given Musakhal and Drug tehsils of Musakhel district in Balochistan.
An uncle of the Qatar Emir, Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, has been given Loralai district (less Duki area) in Balochistan.
Former prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani has been given Bhakkar and Jhang districts in Punjab.
Former prime minister’s brother Sheikh Falah bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani has been given Jhal Magsi district in Balochistan.
A member of the supreme council of the royal family, Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani, has been given Turbat district in Balochistan.
Other royal family members Sheikh Khalid bin Thani Al-Thani has been given Layyah district in Punjab and Dadu city in Sindh; Sheikh Thani bin Abdul Aziz Al-Thani has been given Surab tehsil and Kalat district in Balochistan; Sheikh Mohammad bin Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani has been given Kingri tehsil of Musakhel district and Barkhan district in Balochistan; and Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al-Thani has been given Dera Ismail Khan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2014
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Comments (151) Closed
Nov 16, 2014 08:48am
If we are receiving a grant from gulf states, we have to finally give them something back. Money talks and we are not far even for giving royals license to kill humans as well.
What a sad state of our country?
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Nov 16, 2014 09:15am
Real enemies of Pakistan. unfortunately we don't know they are our enemies
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Nov 16, 2014 09:16am
Welcome sheikh pleas give us visa and money
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Nov 16, 2014 09:34am
In an another article published in Dawn sometimes back Kuwait was also included. Just to inform the readers that since 2008 Pakistanis are not allowed to visit Kuwait.
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Nov 16, 2014 09:35am
Government should ask friendly royals to hire Pakistani manpower on "priority basis"...we "urgently need" at least "10 million" of our skilled and unskilled workforce employed at the earliest in brotherly middle eastern countries...time is of essence...
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Nov 16, 2014 09:39am
Poor Pakistan. No further comment required!
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Nov 16, 2014 09:43am
@Bilal you are right. We are all guilty as we have allowed our country to be sold little by little. Whether it is land, principles, or people it eventually amounts to the same. Countries that once used to look up to us now look down on us.
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Nov 16, 2014 09:51am
@Bilal - Very well said.
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Nov 16, 2014 09:55am
Who is NS to give such permits. Royals? In this day and age we believe in blue bloods!
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Nov 16, 2014 10:04am
@Bilal They are.... we are engaged in proxy wars....Hunting is not a sport. In a sport, both sides should know they're in the game.....
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Nov 16, 2014 10:08am
Hope Indians are also granted permits to hunt the 'bustard' terrorists. India will pay billion $$ aid to Pakistan.
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Nov 16, 2014 10:11am
One hundred in hand is better than two thousand in the bushes!
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Nov 16, 2014 10:11am
What an embarrassment. Its like Pakistan is for sale at any price and no shame.
Give them a permit to hunt the damn terrorists they send and fund.
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Nov 16, 2014 10:13am
What a disgrace!
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Nov 16, 2014 10:15am
Please read about vedaranyam to know of how migratory birds are to be treated. These birds migrate to escape harsh weather with full hope that hey can return back when conditions improve. This is tragic and I humane. Are there not other ways to please Arab masters?
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Nov 16, 2014 10:15am
These ignorant sheikhs probably need any and all imaginary aphrodisiacs to compensate for various deficiencies.
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Nov 16, 2014 10:16am
Concerned people should gather at the hunting site and protest against this and bring awareness to international media.These animals are endangered species.Shame on Nawaz sharif shame in us.
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Nov 16, 2014 10:26am
No words to criticize such decision. Every one is guilty. The middle-east royals know what they are doing and so is Pakistani government. Why does Pakistan bend backwards to please the Arabs?
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Nov 16, 2014 10:26am
Pakistan is an Arab colony.
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Nov 16, 2014 10:27am
Pakistani government should be sued in the world court for breaking a local and international laws on protected birds
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Nov 16, 2014 10:31am
ShMe on the government. No self respect nor respect for God's creation. People don't have food to eat in some of these areas and yet the Arabs will eat this beautiful endangered bird.
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Nov 16, 2014 10:33am
why not give license to kill humans too huh? life is cheap in our country. isn't it?
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Nov 16, 2014 10:39am
After the scandal of last year I never thought that more permits would be given out to our Arab masters. This bird will not last long now.
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Nov 16, 2014 10:41am
Shameful indeed.
If any individual do this, he/she can be punished under law but how to punish the govt??
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Nov 16, 2014 10:52am
They behead Pakistanis in their countries, and when they visit Pakistan, they shoot EVEN our birds and animals
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Nov 16, 2014 10:52am
Shame on government part. Pervez Rashees you have anything to say !!!!! Please open your mouth on this news !shamless people
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Nov 16, 2014 10:59am
That is what happens in an Islamic nation. Whatever Allah preaches are not implemented. Rules can be bent to gain profits.
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Nov 16, 2014 11:01am
@Bilal
And you say that this also done by Indian RAW agencies to eradicate the peaceful nature of Pakistan.
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Nov 16, 2014 11:05am
Why the Sheiks needs houbara bustards for aphrodisiac? They will be better if they use Viagra..
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Nov 16, 2014 11:05am
Gulf states have given ROZGAR to over a million Pakistanis who remit billions of dollars and in return few permits to hunt birds(not human) is nothing
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Nov 16, 2014 11:06am
Shameless decision of Nawaz, Whereas in Qatar Pakistanis are banned.
Can Mr. Nawaz do anything on that with Qatar government?
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Nov 16, 2014 11:08am
There is nothing wrong as we have nothing else to offer. These gulf states are accommodating large number of Pakistasnis who are sending back the money to their families in Pakistan. Pakistan is dependant on these states so nothing wrong with offering hunting facilities to the royal families of these kingdom. I do not think its a matter of ego for Pakistan.
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Nov 16, 2014 11:08am
So sad. No respect for humans or animals!!!
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Nov 16, 2014 11:20am
Menial Arabs...
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Nov 16, 2014 11:22am
@Mamata_Begam
Pls make washroom first for Poor Indian's living all their life on footpaths of bombay and Kulkatta
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Nov 16, 2014 11:23am
Emirs and Sheikhs got their houbara hunting permits.
Extremist groups already have their permits for hunting Ahmadis, Shias, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians.
Pakistan, don't you feel at least a bit of shame?
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Nov 16, 2014 11:26am
Pakistan is for sale under nawaz govt.
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Nov 16, 2014 11:26am
wow ........... Nawaz Sharif is a good servant to Saudi, so these permits hardly matters no matter what.
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Nov 16, 2014 11:29am
Shame on NS. Killing endangered species for entertainment of his masters...
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Nov 16, 2014 11:29am
If the Sheiks had asked NS for license to kill humans, even that would have been granted. As far as he is concerned, both Pakistan and Pakistanis are for sale.
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Nov 16, 2014 11:30am
@Mamata_Begam
Indian Troll Alert!
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Nov 16, 2014 11:38am
Will the Supreme Court do anything or sleep over it !!!!!!!!!!
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Nov 16, 2014 11:39am
Beggars...
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Nov 16, 2014 11:39am
Pakistani government is insulting itself before the international community just think what msg this is going to send no self respecting nation should do this
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Nov 16, 2014 11:39am
Why you guys selling our land.we might be different countries now but this land is one.not supposed to be rented out for money.please stop
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Nov 16, 2014 11:41am
Last year they killed 2100 houbara bustard out of 4200 total population in the world. So this year they will kill the remaining half population of houbara bustard and next year there will be no houbara bustard left in this world. Kiddo to our Govt. I proposal to the Govt is that from next year asked them to kill the terrorist so in few years there will be no terrorist left.
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Nov 16, 2014 11:43am
Pakistan government should stop all these facilities, which provided since last 30 years to the Arabs, because what they are doing in Balochistan and what they did once they had land in Shamksi and made airbase.
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Nov 16, 2014 11:47am
Poor birds. Their curse will leave Pakistan with no birds
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Nov 16, 2014 11:48am
@Bilal In fact the responsibilities also goes on the shoulders of our Civic families who are all time active to protest in a fashionable way rarely shown any interest about these issues. If they will protest on these issues it will come in limelight
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Nov 16, 2014 11:58am
After all the always begging Royals of Pakistan have to entertain their royal counterparts otherwise who will fill up their begging bowl. Who cares about the natural resources of the country in this situation.
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Nov 16, 2014 12:00pm
What ever we will do for the royals we will still be the Miskeens in their eyes.
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Nov 16, 2014 12:05pm
WOW..Congratulations..
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Nov 16, 2014 12:08pm
Pakistan is a play ground for arab sheiks where no local rules apply to them. Ive heard that these people hunt more than houbara bustards when they are in Pakistan if you know what i mean. This is what happens when you are over dependent on foreign powers.
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Nov 16, 2014 12:10pm
These so called sheikhs. God gave them responsibility and they tarnished His world with injustice, tyranny and abuse.
Prophecies are coming true now.
Bedouins will be competing each other to build tallest towers in the desert.
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Nov 16, 2014 12:17pm
Still better than Musharraf who gave license to Blackwater and other agencies who were allowed to come anytime to our homeland and hunt our paki fellows or kill them and transfer them to their Guantanamo bays ;) Rest those are missing till to date we have no clue where they are on this earth and we are crying on houbara bustard!!!!!!
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Nov 16, 2014 12:19pm
It's nothing to compair with giving the free hand to American's to kill anyone anywhere in Pakistan.
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Nov 16, 2014 12:19pm
National laws ban houbara hunting in Pakistan and Pakistan is a signatory to international protection of this bird. I hope the dignatories to whom these licenses are issued will take notice of this and respect the laws of the land. The dignatories are law abiding people. Let us ALL respect the rule of law.
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Nov 16, 2014 12:21pm
Pakistan is a strange country, signatory to the "Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species" or CITES but issuing hunting permits even when Houbara Bustard is categorized under Appendix I of CITES. This contempt for Law and international obligations has been the bane of Pakistan, if such contempt continues Pakistan can become a wasteland.
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Nov 16, 2014 12:32pm
Oh God....for few more dollars selling the national pride.!!...May God enlighten the rulers to save the flora and fauna of the country....
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Nov 16, 2014 12:33pm
Mr Sharif plz only keep such people in ur raiwand!!!!!!!!
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Nov 16, 2014 12:36pm
There is no need to make issue out of nothing. It is OK to hunt the birds. They continue to multiply by themselves. Extensive fishing is done throughout the world but fishes are not yet extinct. Pakistan has the best of relationship with these countries so it looks mean to disallow sporting activities.
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Nov 16, 2014 12:40pm
@Mamata_Begam . Please don't be so generous towards Pakistan . Pay some attention to your own problems and issues within India . We all know what's all happening there and stop sending arms to this part . Thank you
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Nov 16, 2014 12:49pm
@unknown There is no shame in accepting that we are one of the poor people but position of pakistan is also not good in human index development index. But there is surely one difference between pakistani and indian that indian never sell their self-respect but pakistani can do as you can see in this news also. enjoy :)
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Nov 16, 2014 12:53pm
The one bright thing that comes out of this is that we have a free press that has the courage to publish this information. This should lead to a national debate, one that should include conservationists from all over the world, to see what kind of Faustian bargains have been made by our governments over that last so many years, that a protected species is hunted down without any regard for laws and regulations. We all enjoy our team playing cricket on the UAE grounds - is this part of the payoff? Many of us work in these areas - isn't this part of the bargain? We have a population that is exploding beyond limits - is it fair that we expect any government to maintain our standard of living without making any such bargains? For a country with limited natural resources, we need to adopt a model that would allow us to develop scientifically, and allow us to maintain a semblance of dignity and sovereignty.
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Nov 16, 2014 12:54pm
Suo Moto this please!
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Nov 16, 2014 01:10pm
No problem, our million of people working in these countries and sending billion of dollars every year to Pakistan, in this world everything is about to give and take, don't be so fundamentalist, I welcome them in my Pakistan instead of welcoming Modi
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Nov 16, 2014 01:19pm
These desert jokies should not be allowed to plunder our resources
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Nov 16, 2014 01:22pm
how much a permit cost and who gets the money?????
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Nov 16, 2014 01:33pm
Time to remind ourselves the repercussions our Islamic friendship, alliance & brotherhood with these Gulf states has...
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Nov 16, 2014 01:37pm
Govt must abandon issuing illegal permits and hold accountable to those who did this illegal thing.
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Nov 16, 2014 01:41pm
Confirms that anything in PAKISTAN can be bought including its people and the world knows it. Sad state of affairs and i wonder whether any pakistani govt will reverse this behaviour??????
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Nov 16, 2014 01:54pm
@Masoud what a foolish argument
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Nov 16, 2014 02:00pm
the most important permit of Chakwal Area is given to most rich area of UAE. Abu Dhabi, the president of UAE
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Nov 16, 2014 02:06pm
...by now all the Houbara should have died out.......so it seems they are doing much less hunting and much more of something else........and our elite locals and their sidekicks obviously are making a buck.
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Nov 16, 2014 02:12pm
I am with many of you who are criticising permits to be given to Arabs but have you seen our local people who 5000 times less richer than these Royal but just having a jeep, few guns displaying 100s of bird on the bonut of the jeep? I am 100% sure these Arabs also pay attention for the breeding and growth of these birds even just to please themselves to find them again for hunting
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Nov 16, 2014 02:29pm
Will IK protest?
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Nov 16, 2014 02:30pm
If you lose your genetic diversity and exotic animals, it will cause way more losses in Tourism revenue in the future than gains in hunting permits.
Even if you don't have much tourism today, doesn't mean you couldn't have been a wildlife watchers hub in the future.
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Nov 16, 2014 02:32pm
@tauseef rasheed I think the pakistanis are receiving a monthly scholarship or stipend from these states?From your ranting it is felt like that.Those people slog their guts out to make a living.Most of them live in inhumane conditions to save few riyals or dirhams to send back to their family.All these Gulf states are built by the sweat,blood and tears of workers of Indian subcontinent .
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Nov 16, 2014 02:35pm
Next - the date is not far away - Pakistan will allow these rich people to kill hapless poor people of Pakistan too as recreation. Mark my word - sure it will happen.
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Nov 16, 2014 02:47pm
Shareef is a disaster not only for humans (model town strategy is an example) but for animals too.
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Nov 16, 2014 02:48pm
@Ahmed USA ask for jobs in return for illegal hunting permits. What a pity!
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Nov 16, 2014 02:49pm
What's ironic is, sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa was pictured on front page in Bahrain Daily News of Nov 9, 2014 feeding a houbara bustard in his kingdom supporting "environmental initiative". What hurts me more is the dual standards of these "royals".
Also, seems like the NS government is playing a fair referee by assigning various areas and demarcating boundaries in these permits. Otherwise, these royals might kill everything in their way to compete in hunting.
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Nov 16, 2014 02:50pm
@Einstein Babar So it is ok to kill endangered birds? right according to you, what if by accident if someone gets killed or if that person happens to be your family member, so hopefully that is also acceptable to you I suppose.
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Nov 16, 2014 02:50pm
This is not hunting ... this is genocide. IK must highlight these issues.
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Nov 16, 2014 02:55pm
Dear readers that is what NS is going to do, I am sure these corrupt officers have made this decision under the influence of govt.
Wake up Pakistan as they are not leaving any thing for our generations, selling our people principles religion and everything
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Nov 16, 2014 02:55pm
@Bilal That license has been given to US already.
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Nov 16, 2014 03:02pm
Indeed Pakistan is open for investment.
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Nov 16, 2014 03:06pm
thats what arabs of todays good at .
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Nov 16, 2014 03:06pm
@kranti buddy chill out, don't be paranoid and apply for a permit too.
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Nov 16, 2014 03:14pm
Since 1977 pakistan has been
going downhill without brakes
tried and tested politicians without
any ethics have not been able to
stop this downward spiral it will be
a miracle if somebody can stop
this wild roller coaster ride.
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Nov 16, 2014 03:20pm
We should protest.
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Nov 16, 2014 03:37pm
You can all thank Musharraf for this. We really need to cut our ties with Arabs. Yes there will be temporary problems but in the long run it will be much better for Pakistan.
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Nov 16, 2014 03:40pm
@Masoud Is it possible other way around ? What bout Pakistanis granted visa for hunting camels in Arab nations ?
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Nov 16, 2014 03:41pm
@Not Surprised Nawaz should not let these birds prey to Arabs
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Nov 16, 2014 03:47pm
Really sad that we are letting these people do this.
Have these arabs done any real value to Pakistan to deserve such privileges ?
These people invest billions in non muslim countries but throw a few pennies in Pakistans direction (or Nawaz Sharifs) and they get all this. Disgusting.
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Nov 16, 2014 03:58pm
Can anyone go to the courts for this or can the courts take Suo Motto on this case as these permits are "in violation of various international nature conservation agreements that call for protection of rare species and even national laws also ban houbara bustard hunting, yet special permits are issued to foreigners in violation of local laws and international commitments." The courts must ask the federal government to cancel these permits or even penalize and punishment like those who issued these permits like any other Pakistani.
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Nov 16, 2014 04:29pm
I think it is important to establish if Prime Minister has broken any law and rules by issuing these permits. A JIT should be established and this matter should be investigated. Nobody should be allowed to sell national assets and their motherland to foreigners to further their personnel relations. we are not a monarchy but our rulers act like one whether they are civilians or military. This has hot to stop and people need to be taken to task.
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Nov 16, 2014 05:16pm
Saudies man in Islamabad, enough said.
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Nov 16, 2014 05:26pm
They behead our people on charges of smuggling drugs,without providing them fair trial.And we give them licenses for their entertainment by allowing them to hunt out precious birds!
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Nov 16, 2014 05:29pm
Pakistan - playing field of UAE Sheikhs And Saudi Royals. Come over & have fun.
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Nov 16, 2014 05:29pm
The allocation was done by Auction and more areas allocated to the highest bidder. Even bribery must have taken place.
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Nov 16, 2014 05:30pm
@Ahmed USA agree but not going to happen.
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Nov 16, 2014 05:30pm
@Not Surprised poor birds
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Nov 16, 2014 05:31pm
@Not Surprised I understand your passion. If we promote education this situation will swing back.
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Nov 16, 2014 05:57pm
Its ok. We get lots of help from ummah gulf nations. Besides, they are birds and have little use in real life.
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Nov 16, 2014 06:00pm
good decision by pak govt
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Nov 16, 2014 06:00pm
Last year alone one of the Saudi royal prince shot down about 2% of the overall population of these endangered birds .. what spineless leaders we have
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Nov 16, 2014 06:03pm
Quit complaining about it. Start an online campaign and stop these Royals to stop killing these beautiful birds. We need to let the world know that we are not helpless. We will save the species for our future generations.
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Nov 16, 2014 06:30pm
Sir: It is a shame that the government does not respect domestic laws protecting an endangered species. It is no wonder that it also does not respect international laws of conduct between neighbors.
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Nov 16, 2014 06:56pm
Money talks. From trafficking poor girls to permitting the killing of these innocent animals Sheikhs will have them all, because money talks and we are sold outs!
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Nov 16, 2014 07:15pm
Please Please Please for God's sake.. stop this..
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Nov 16, 2014 07:16pm
I see a lot of upset Pakistanis protesting. Why not come out on street and protest. There are always protests on the streets in Pakistan. One way out could be that the news could have reported that Americans were also given licenses. This would have galvanized a lot of people to protest.
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Nov 16, 2014 07:25pm
@kranti Pakistan's peace was destroyed by Saudii ruling Shiekhs.
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Nov 16, 2014 08:00pm
@Muhammad iqbal : number of Indians working in ME is two folds compared to Pakistanis. Has India ever given them such permits. Westerners working there are probably making more money than Pakistanis - have they ever bent their rules for anyone?
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Nov 16, 2014 08:01pm
Now this is the kind of thing what judicial Suo Moto is meant to combat.
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Nov 16, 2014 08:45pm
I can't imagine a responsible Government can violate and degrade the environment with impunity without considering the long term impact on the country for the future generation.I can understand money can buy any thing and it is pretty obvious the politicians as well, but come on it is below the dignity of a nation who claim to be a nuclear country and we should not deviate or surrender to any country who pushed us around.
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Nov 16, 2014 09:01pm
One word, Shame for the ones that hurt their country.
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Nov 16, 2014 09:07pm
The only question i have is what is IK doing about this. Why is he allowing the self respect of Pakistan to be sacrificed this way? Wont Naya Pakistan have any self respect at all? Any anti-sheik jalsa being planned?
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Nov 16, 2014 09:14pm
Let us make a deal, you hunt 1 bird, and offer 1 work visa to our un-employed.
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Nov 16, 2014 09:41pm
To my Pakistani brother, stop acting holier than thou, millions of Pakistanis earn their living in Arab states and send billions of dollars to Pakistan which is vital to our survival. In the lieu if we let them hunt some hubara birds so what?
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Nov 16, 2014 10:05pm
Where the self respect? preserve the bio-diversity, else environmentally also it will be a disaster.
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Nov 16, 2014 10:39pm
Just disgusting. How can Pakistan allow these Arabs to kill a bird, Protected under the law. How Pakistanis are treated by these Arabs and how Pakistani Rulers welcome them in Pakistan. There should be a name in Pakistani language, and not in English, of this kind of relationship, so average Pakistani understands this. .
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Nov 16, 2014 11:35pm
@Masoud I suppose you don't know what is meant by 'rare' or 'protected' species.
Incidentally human beings also multiply by themselves.
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Nov 17, 2014 01:52am
@Joomla Mr these gulf states do not give any job for free. People there come from all over the world including India but that does not mean that you sell your self respect and motherland. I am sure Indian government does not allow the rulers of these countries to kill endangered birds like that. The Pakistani people work very hard for their money and this does not come into the equation at all. Please wake up otherwise these corrupt rulers will sell everything to make money themselves. I am sure that ask for personal favours from these rulers in return for this.
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Nov 17, 2014 02:32am
supreme court should take a suo moto notice to stop this non-sense...
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Nov 17, 2014 02:40am
@s.khan : A couple of million dollars and the money goes to shariff's swiss account !
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Nov 17, 2014 03:21am
How about issuing hunting licenses for Arab royals? I'd be the first in line to get one.
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Nov 17, 2014 03:29am
Sad and shameful.
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Nov 17, 2014 03:51am
Shame on rulers of this country, everything is on sale...
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Nov 17, 2014 04:28am
Plus publish the issuing authorities names the next time such news is published. We need to shame these individuals.
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Nov 17, 2014 05:53am
Many people commenting on this post argue that Arab countries offer employment to Pakistanis, thus allowing billions of dollars to be sent home. So issuing permits to kill a few birds is simply fair. This argument is specious. 1) The birds don't "belong" to Pakistan. They don't belong to any country, and they migrate across countries (including India which is now seeing a drastic drop in the number of bustards), 2) The Arabs are not providing any special favors by offering jobs to Pakistanis. These jobs are not a gift or a favor to Pakistan. Thus there is no need for "repayment". 3) Several Arab countries have captive breeding programs for bustards. So it is not as if these birds cannot be found in the Middle East. They should first kill their own, and then ask for more. 4) Even if it is alright to issue permits, at least the bag rules should be observed. Will it be okay if they kill every single bustard in Pakistan in a single season? Kill all of them and drive them into extinction? There will be nothing left to hunt.
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Nov 17, 2014 06:34am
interesting read, i also found this on internet…something this article should at least include.
The North African houbara bustard declined in populations in the two decades before 2004, but unlike its near relative the Asian houbara or MacQueen's bustard, has been on the increase since. Although hunted both by falconers and by hunters with guns, the extent is much less than that faced by MacQueen's bustard in the middle east and west Asia.[9]
The International Foundation for Conservation and Development of Wildlife (IFCDW) is a major conservation and breeding project established with funds from Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and based near Agadir, Morocco. The centre releases captive bred populations to boost wild populations. Similar projects breed MacQueen's bustards using artificial insemination are also carried out in the United Arab Emirates.
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Nov 17, 2014 07:59am
Oil money does not made gulf state royal families civilized, they are still barbarians
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Nov 17, 2014 08:10am
@Masoud Please read the science of conservation....its better to keep quite than expose your ignorance
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Nov 17, 2014 08:46am
Please kill endangered species for few jobs and aid. Beggers cant be choosers...
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Nov 17, 2014 08:48am
Imran khan please take up these poor birds in your speeches. Thank you.
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Nov 17, 2014 10:25am
It is sad to see the Pakistani leaders pandering to the Sheikhs and Emirs in this way and killing away birds that have a right to live like the people. I guess for some, currying favours is more important than ensuring these birds remain for posterity.
The people of Pakistan must be wondering what's next on the menu of these wealthy butchers from Arabia.
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Nov 17, 2014 10:37am
@Einstein Babar ,soon houbara bustards will be finished to make it an extinct species. Then no sheikh will come to your country and"millions " of your brother will be sent back. Then? Perhaps you will welcome Modiji. RIGHT?
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Nov 17, 2014 11:39am
@welt arabs are to do here n pakistan what even its own citizens have no right to do.what a shameful state of affairs.those who belive it for generating revenue i ask them what else to b saled for money? Its the time we all pakistani should under stand that we r being ruled by the puppets of malignat forces.
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Nov 17, 2014 05:04pm
@rama they are not barbarians…one thing to prove is that they take care of their citizens, provide them with the highest standard of living than any other nations, its much higher than south asians. sure they is still work that needs to be done like be more concerned about environment etc. but they are not barbarians…
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Nov 17, 2014 05:17pm
The corrupt govt will sell PAKISTAN to any one for dollars
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Nov 17, 2014 06:22pm
For how long Pakistan will be party to this illegal activity! Why we have such a low self esteem. We are sixth bigest country in the world with such a big manpower and youth.
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Nov 17, 2014 11:03pm
Wonder if the Govt will welcome Iranians in the same manner.
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Nov 18, 2014 10:52am
@Asif We will take care of ourselves. Its just a thought process that when everything is on sale, why not try to get some permits for ourselves.:-)
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Nov 18, 2014 02:37pm
I propose that we breed the said bustard in hatcheries, and send the breed to be shot by the paying customers. There is so much money to be bade from it. Why not ?
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Nov 18, 2014 03:28pm
The Sheiks live in deserts and soon they will turn your country into one by plundering your wildlife and nature
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Nov 18, 2014 04:41pm
Is there any country in the whole wide world where this can even be thought of? Anybody would like to enlighten?
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Nov 18, 2014 06:29pm
I am sure no minister would invite these sheikhs to their own homes. You can never know what would take their fancy.
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Nov 18, 2014 09:48pm
No harm in pleasing people who you claim to be your genetic ancestors.Only harm is that they don't consider you as their progeny
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Nov 19, 2014 12:02am
Tomorrow going for petition before balochistan high court against this illegal act of federal government.
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Nov 19, 2014 02:35am
This is fitna!!!
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