Saudi Crown Prince MBS to hunt rare houbara bustard in Pakistan

At least 18 Saudi and Qatari royals, including Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, will visit Pakistan to hunt rare houbara bustard after the confirmation of their special hunting licences.

The members of royal families have obtained permission to hunt houbara bustard in Balochistan in spite of the international and local bans on the hunt of the endangered species.

Media reports suggest that Saudi CP Muhammad Bin Salman will hunt the bird in Layyah and Bhakkar region, whereas another Saudi royal Prince Fahad Bin Sultan has been allotted Awaran and Chaghi areas of Balochistan for the hunting of the rare bird.

Qatari royal Muhammad Bin Khalifus Sani and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamadus Sani will be hunt the migratory bird in Loralai and Musakhel, respectively. Sheikh Muhammad bin Ali Sani was allotted Barkhan while Sheikh Sani Abdul Aziz was given Kalat and Surab.

In total 18 sheikhs from Saudi Arabia and Qatar succeeded in getting permission for hunting in Balochistan and other provinces. In return, the Balochistan government will receive Rs150 million for granting this permission.

Last month, the federal government had granted permission to Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, to export 150 falcons of rare species from Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates.

The Dubai ruler had needed younger falcons to hunt houbara bustards, and permission in this regard was issued by the foreign ministry.

The permit issued on Sept 15 this year had read: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs…has the honour to inform that the esteemed embassy may export one hundred and fifty (150) falcons from Pakistan to the United Arab Emirate (UAE) for the personal use of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al Maktoum, vice president of UAE and ruler of Dubai, from Karachi/Bahawalpur/Rahim Yar Khan/Islamabad/Quetta.”