KARACHI, Dec 16: The federal government has issued special permits to at least 27 foreign dignitaries, including heads of some Arabian Gulf states, to hunt the highly endangered and internationally protected houbara bustard.

According to reliable sources, the dignitaries who have been given permits for the 2008-09 hunting season belong to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. The largest number of permits, ten, have been issued to dignitaries in the UAE, followed by eight in Qatar, seven in Bahrain and two in Saudi Arabia.

According to a foreign ministry’s communication dated Nov 14, 2008, the dignitaries who have been given permits are:

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Aviation Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, districts of Chaghi and Noshki (less Noshki city) in Balochistan; and Minister of Interior Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz, districts of Dera Bugti, Dera Murad Jamali, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Loralai in Balochistan and Mianwali and Sargodha in Punjab.UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Nawabshah, Ghotki, Sukkur and Sanghar districts in Sindh and Gawadar, Jhal Magsi (less subdivision Gandava) in Balochistan; Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Gen Shaikh Mohammad bin Zayed, Domki area of Tehsil Lehri in Sibi district; Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Hamadan bin Zayed, Dadu district (Tehsil Khairpur Nathan Shah, Johi and union council Faridabad), district Shahdadkot/Larkana (Gaibi Dero) and district Khairpur (area across Nara Canal) in Sindh and Tehsil Lehri in Sibi district (minus Domki area), Old Katchi and Sani Shoran in Bolan district; Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed, Kot Digi (not across Nara Canal) in Khairpur district; and member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi Shaikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed, Qila Saifulla district including Kar Khurassan (less subdivision Muslim Bagh).

Ruler of Dubai and Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, districts of Gwadar and Jhal Magsi (less subdivision Gandava), Khuzdar and Lasbela in Balochistan and Jhang and Muzaffargarh in Punjab; Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE’s Finance and Industries Minister Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Bahawalpur district including Fort Abbas of Bahawalnagar district in Punjab; member of the ruling family of Dubai Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, district Badin, Jungshahi in Thatta district and Dhabeji in Malir district; member of the ruling family and deputy chief of police and general security Major General Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Tharparkar district including Mithi and Nagarparkar (minus sanctuary) and Umerkot district; and director of UAE’s prime minister’s office Naseer Abdullah Hussain Lootah and his sons Abdullah Naseer Lootha and Hussain Hassan Lootah, Thatta district excluding Jungshahi, Jatti, Shah Bandar and union councils Onger and Jherrack.

Senior member of Bahrain’s ruling family Shaikh Ebrahim bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Thatta district (union councils of Janabad and Sonda); Commander of Bahrain National Guards Major General Shaikh Mohammad bin Isa bin Sulman Al Khalifa, Jamshoro district (tehsils Thano Bula Khan, Kotri, Majjhand and Sehwan); brother of King of Bahrain Shaikh Rashid bin Isa bin Sulman Al Khalifa, tehsil Sohrab of Kalat district in Balochistan; member of the ruling family Ahmed bin Ali Al Khalifa, Hyderabad and Matyari districts, and Onger and Jhirk in Thatta district; Defence Minister of Bahrain Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, Jhal Magsi (subdivision Gandava) in Balochistan; member of the ruling family Shaikh Mohammad bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Thatta district (Tehsil Shah Bander); and Electricity and Water Minister and Head of the Office of Supreme Commander of Armed Forces Shaikh Abdullah bin Sulman al Khalifa, Thatta district (tehsil Jati).

Amir of Qatar Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, districts of Khushab and Bahawalnagar (less tehsil Fort Abbas) in Punjab; heir apparent Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Jacobabad district in Sindh; Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabar Al-Thani, Muslim Bagh subdivision in Qila Saifullah district of Balochistan; Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Major General Hamad bin Ali Attiya, Mand and Tump tehsils of Turbat district in Balochistan; Adviser to the Amir of Qatar Shaikh Mohammad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Loralai district (less Duki area); Adviser to the Amir and former prime minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, Musa Khel district in Balochistan; former heir apparent and Special Representative of the Amir of Qatar Shaikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Barakhan district in Balochistan; and member of the Supreme Council of the royal family of Qatar Shaikh Ali bin Abdullah Thani, Turbat district (Tehsils Buleda and Dasht).

The sources said the permit set the bag limit at 100 birds. Hunting only by the notified dignitary is permitted through falconry for a maximum period of 10 days and the number of hunted birds is to be reported to the wildlife department’s liaison officer attached to the hunting party on a daily basis.

Training of falcons in houbara bustard habitat and hunting areas is not allowed and trapping and taking of live houbara bustards, their eggs, chicks from their habitat is strictly prohibited and trans-boundary export of houbara bustard, their chicks and eggs is not allowed.