Sindh Assembly session: ‘Arab dignitaries imported 518 falcons to hunt Houbara Bustards’

Wildlife minister yet to attend his department's question-answer session in two years

KARACHI: A total of 518 falcons were imported to Pakistan in the year 2012-2013 by different Arab dignitaries to hunt down Houbara Bustards.

This revelation was made by the wildlife department during the question-answer session in the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday. The parliamentary secretary to the wildlife department, Nasir Shah, said that 222 of these falcons were imported from Qatar, 133 from UAE, 120 from Bahrain, 33 from Saudi Arabia and 10 from Kuwait. Shah explained that the federal government issues hunting permits to the Arab dignitaries. During the session, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional's parliamentary leader Nand Kumar drew the attention of the House towards a statement given by the UAE foreign affairs minister in which he warned Pakistan will pay a heavy price for its ambiguous stand on Yemen.

Shah responded that there is no decision to stop issuing hunting permits to the UAE royal family in light of this statement. "We do condemn such statements," he added.

Absent wildlife minister

Wildlife minister Gayan Chand, who has never attended his department's question-answer session in the last two years, failed to show up on Tuesday as well. His department's parliamentary secretary gave the answers.

The other lawmakers pointed out Chand's absence but the treasury members replied that the minister was busy in the field. "The wildlife minister punctually attends all the sessions but, when it comes to the question-answer session of his department, he manages to escape," said an MPA, on the condition of anonymity.

Agenda deferred

After the question-answer session, all business on the agenda was deferred and the session was adjourned for Friday due to the death anniversary of former chief minister Abdul Shah. "Most of the MPAs have to attend the anniversary of Abdullah Shah in Dadu therefore we request to adjourn the session and defer today's business till the next private members day," said Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Kulsoom Chandio. Parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro and Muttahida Qaumi Movement's parliamentary leader Syed Sardar Ahmed also endorsed Chandio's plea after which the speaker adjourned the session.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2015.