KARACHI: The federal government has issued special permits to United Arab Emirates president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and his five family members to hunt the internationally protected houbara bustard during season 2017-18, Dawn has learnt.

Sources said the crown prince, son of the president, brothers of the president, and other family members were included in hunting group.

They said that Sheikh Khalifa was the only hunter allocated hunting areas in three provinces — Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab.

A resident of colder central Asian region, the houbara avoiding the harsh weather conditions migrates southwards every year to spend winters in the relatively warmer environment here.

Owing to its declining population globally the bird is protected under various international conservation conventions and its hunting is also banned under the national as well as local wildlife protection laws.

However, the federal government issues special permits to rulers and ruling family members from the Gulf region to hunt the houbara bustard.

The sources added that by issuing the hunting permits the federal government was at risk of losing the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus status given to Pakistan by the European Union under which its exports were given preference and an easy access to the highly lucrative European markets.

They said that the EU carried out checks regularly to ensure that the countries given the GSP Plus status observed various international nature conservation laws. The sources said that losing of the GSP Plus status in the current situation could prove to be more challenging financially particularly after the recent suspension of the United States monetary assistance.

The sources said that the special permit No: DCP(P&I)-19/6/2017-18 (Allocations/UAE) had been issued by the foreign ministry’s deputy chief of protocol and was sent to Islamabad based Embassy of the United Arab Emirates so that it could be sent to the UAE-based hunter. The permit says that, “The ministry of foreign affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Islamabad and has the honour to state that the Government of Pakistan has conveyed its recommendation to the authorities in the concerned provinces for allocation of following areas to Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, president of the UAE and Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for hunting of houbara bustards for the season 2017-18.

“The areas allocated for hunting season 2017-18 are: Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Chakwal districts in Punjab; Sukkur, Ghotki (subject to outcome of litigation), Nawabshah and Sanghar districts in Sindh; and Zhob, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar and Panjgur districts in Balochistan.

“The respective provincial governments have also been requested to issue the necessary permits in this regard. Code of conduct for hunting season 2017-18 is also attached.

“The ministry of foreign affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the esteemed Embassy of the United Arab Emirates the assurances of its highest consideration,” adds the Pakistan foreign office’s letter / permit to the UAE.

The names of other hunters who have been issued special houbara hunting permits and the areas allocated to them are as follows.

UAE President’s brother who is the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and also the Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Gen Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed al-Nahyan has been allocated Lahri Tehsil in Sibi district (Domki area only) in Balochistan.

UAE president’s brother and deputy prime minister of the UAE Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has been given Khairpur district (including Kot Diji and not across Nara Canal).

UAE President’s son sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has been allocated Dera Murad Jamali Tehsil in the Nasirabad district, Balochistan.

UAE president’s brother Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who is also the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, has been granted Lahri Tehsil of Sibbi District (minus Domki area) and Old Kachi in Kachi district, Balochistan. A member of the UAE’s ruling family Sheikh Saif bin Mohammed bin Butti Al-Hamed has been allocated Duki area in Loralai, Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2018