Pakistani diplomat hails lifting of ban on hunting of houbara bustard

The diplomat, serving in an Arab country, said move would greatly help improve diplomatic ties with Gulf countries

ISLAMABAD: A senior Pakistani diplomat posted in an Arab country hailed on Saturday the Supreme Court’s decision to lift the ban on the hunting of houbara bustard, saying it would greatly help the government in improving bilateral diplomatic ties with Gulf countries.

“It is good news for our foreign office to offer hunting of houbara bustard to dignitaries from Gulf countries,” the official said while requesting anonymity.

On January 22, the Supreme Court lifted the ban on hunting of Tiloor, an indigenous game bird also known as houbara bustard.



While reviewing its 2015 judgment, a five-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, announced its order over the federal and provincial governments’ review petitions against the court’s earlier decision to ban houbara bustard hunting.

In October last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a review petition filed in the apex court maintained that “inviting Arabs to hunt houbara bustard in different parts of the country is a pillar of foreign policy”.

The restriction was adversely affecting the country’s already-weakened relations with Gulf States in the wake of turmoil in the region, the petition added.



Dignitaries, particularly from royal families of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been on the top of a list of recipients of hunting permits in Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh for many years.

The royal guests are also known for presenting expensive gifts to senior police and civil bureaucrats for their hospitality during the hunting season.

According to a senior security official, a few individuals from a Gulf country were found responsible for providing financial assistance to a Baloch tribal chief and militants in return for security provided to them in remote areas of Balochistan.

The review recalled that for over four decades the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been extending invitations to Arab dignitaries for the sustainable hunting of houbara bustard, in view of Pakistan’s strong fraternal and diplomatic relations with Gulf countries.

The foreign dignitaries brought with them considerable finances which were exclusively used for the development of the people in the areas where hunting takes place, the review petition had pleaded.