Around 16 heads of Gulf countries and their families, including the ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and their families are in default of Pakistan and owe them 2.3 million US dollars.
According to a document in possession of Urdu Publisher, this fee is due for hunting permits and import and export of falcons.
These arrears are up to the year 2021, similarly, these payments were not made in the last season i.e. 2022, while the hunting season is starting from November 1 this year.
King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, one of the royal family of Bahrain, has paid the relevant fee of 123 thousand US dollars, while five of his relatives and advisors are owed 900,000 US dollars.
200,000 US dollars on Sheikh Ibrahim bin Hamad bin Abdullah, the uncle of the King of Bahrain, 200,000 US dollars on the cousin of the King of Bahrain and Minister of Interior Lieutenant General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Defense Affairs Adviser to the King of Bahrain, Sheikh Abdullah bin Salman. Khalifa owes US$100,000, Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali Al Khalifa, a member of the royal family and cousin of the King of Bahrain, owes US$200,000, and Sheikh Khalid bin Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, another cousin of the king, owes US$200,000.
200,000 US dollars on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, 200,000 US dollars on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Rashid, a member of the royal family. Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum owes two hundred thousand US dollars, important member of the state Nasir Abdullah Lota owes one hundred thousand US dollars, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a member of the royal family of Dubai, owes two hundred thousand US dollars.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, owes one hundred thousand US dollars, the Emir of the Diwan of Qatar, Sheikh Khalid Shaheen, owes one hundred thousand US dollars, while only one member of the royal family, Sheikh Fahad bin Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani, has paid two hundred thousand US dollars. have done.
A list of falconry permits for Arab visitors is sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Provincial Wildlife Department of Pakistan. It will be for staying in one area for ten days, in case of staying more than the specified period, one hundred and five thousand US dollars will have to be paid extra.
What does the government say?
The Wildlife Department of Sindh has written several letters to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan to inform about these remains, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not responded.
The office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also asked in writing that how much money is owed to the heads of these Gulf states in total and is it being collected from them? Will their permits be revoked in case of non-payment, however, even after the lapse of more than three weeks, answers to these questions have not been received.
During Thursday’s weekly briefing, a Foreign Ministry spokesman did not clarify the total amount owed in fees to heads of state and their families in response to questions from the BBC and how much was owed to them. However, he explained the procedure for issuing the permits.
Foreign Office spokesperson said that dignitaries come to Pakistan for falconry under a procedure, they are invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while the provincial governments provide them with security and support and charge a fixed fee.
The spokesperson of the Foreign Office said that they hope that the foreign dignitaries coming in this hunting season will provide support in local socio-economic projects in these areas and will play a role in bilateral relations.
Hunting allowed despite non-payment
Falcon hunting season in Pakistan will start from November 1 and will continue till February 15. Despite non-payment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has allowed Arab guests to play hunting this year with all facilities and arrangements. has given
According to the documents of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, has been allowed to hunt in 13 districts of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, including Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Sukkur, Ghotki, The areas of Nawabshah, Khairpur, Zhob, Oud Mara, Pasni, Kharan, Panjgur, Washik and Sabi are included.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will be allowed to hunt in Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Naukundi and Hub.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai will be allowed to hunt in Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur, Fort Abbas, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the royal family, in Lahri, Bolan, Kachhi, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Ghaibi Dero, Shahdadkot. , will be able to play hunting in Nara Canal, Juhi and Faridabad Dadu.
Major General Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a member of the royal family and military commander of the United Arab Emirates, will be allowed to hunt in Umarkot, Mithi and Nangarparkar. Hunting will be allowed.
Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, a member of the royal family, was assigned to Badin, Jangshahi, Dahabiji, Chatto Chand and Malir, Sheikh Al Murbin bin Maktoum, a member of the royal family, was assigned to Sumgli and Tehsil Panj Pai, Sheikh Saif bin Muhammad bin Bati Al Hameed was assigned to Daki, Sheikh Sultan bin Thano-ul-Nahyan Rashid Bin Khalifa Al-Mulktoum will play Mirpur Khas while Nasir Lota will play Shikar in Thatta.
King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain was arrested at Thana Bola Khan, Kotri Manjhand and Sehun, the King’s cousin and member of the royal family Sheikh Ibrahim bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Khalifa Shah Bandar, Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defense Force Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa Tusar Mashkeel, Minister of Interior of Bahrain Lt. Gen. Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Jafarabad and Naushahrafirooz, King’s Defense Affairs Adviser Sheikh Abdullah bin Salman Al Khalifa Jati and Sajawal, King’s cousin Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali Al Khalifa Hyderabad and Malir, second to the King Cousin Sheikh Khalid bin Rashid bin Abdullah will be allowed to hunt in Tando Muhammad Khan.
Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, governor of Tabuk province of Saudi Arabia, will open hunting in Awaran, Nushki, Chagai, and Prince bin Muhammad bin Saad bin Abdul Rahman, governor of Haft al-Batin in Dera Ghazi Khan.
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will hunt in three districts of Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh including Jhang, Kalat, Diplo and Islamkot Thar.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani Khushab, father of the Emir of Qatar, in Leh, Dera Ismail Khan and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani Mashkeel, brother of the Emir of Qatar, Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani Loralai, member of the royal family Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal Hammad Kakar will be hunting in Khorasan and Qamaruddin Kariz.
Members of the royal family Sheikh Ali bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani and Sheikh Fahad bin Falah bin Jassim Jhal Magsi, Minister of Defense Sheikh Hamad Ali Al Atiya Khaliqabad, members of the royal family Sheikh Faisal bin Khalifa bin Khalid Bahawal Nangar, Dera Bugti, Sheikh Dr. Fahad Bin Abdullah Rehman will hunt in Khaliqabad, Naseerabad.
Hunting fees and local development
The fees collected from the heads of the Gulf countries are spent on the development and security of the local areas.
According to the War Department, 50 percent of this amount will be earmarked for local development, 35 percent will be spent on the improvement of Talwar residence and 15 percent will be spent on security.
According to the wildlife department, earlier the procedure for using this fee was not clear and recently the Sindh Wildlife Department Act 2022 added a provision regarding the use of falconry fee i.e. falconry fee. According to which this amount will be used under the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the approval of the Advisory Council.
According to the wildlife department’s law on employment of local people, ten guards will be provided if required by the guest for five months during the hunting season from October to February, who will not be paid by the government. will
According to the hunting permit, only 100 birds per guest will be allowed to be hunted and a fine of 1000 USD per bird will be charged for over hunting.
According to the wildlife department, no person shall buy or sell the falcon, a fine of five lakh rupees will be imposed for violation and the falcon will also be seized.
It should be remembered that falcons are also hunted in coastal and plain areas in this season. These falcons move to these areas in pursuit of Siberian birds that are trapped by local hunters.
According to the terms of the falconry, hunting will be allowed in government-owned desert, plains, mountain and coastal areas, excluding private land and property. In case of dispute in which area the Deputy Commissioner will determine the boundaries.