Karachi, Dec 17 (IANS): Pakistan's federal government has issued special permits to the Qatar Emir and nine other members of the royal family to hunt houbara bustard, an internationally protected bird, during the 2019-20 hunting season, a media report said.

Among the permit holders are Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, his uncle, his brother and other dignitaries, Dawn reported.

The hunting areas are spread over Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab provinces.

The hunters are allowed to hunt 100 houbara bustards in a 10-day safari during the three-month hunting season between November 1, 2019 and January 31, 2020. The permit is person-specific.

As per the sources quoted by the news report, the Emir has been issued hunting permit for Tharparkar district, including Mithi and Nagarparkar minus the protected area in Sindh, Mashkhel tehsil in Balochistan, and Jhang and Layyah districts in Punjab.

Others include former Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa al Thani, a paternal uncle of the Emir; Sheikh Jasim bin Hamad al Thani, son of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani (father of the Emir); Sheikh Fasil bin Nasser bin Hamad al Thani; Sheikh Khalid bin Thani Al Thani; Sheikh Fahad bin Abdul Rehman bin Hamad al Thani; Sheikh Mohammad bin Ali bin Abdullah bin Thani; Sheikh Thani bin Abdul Aziz Al-Thani; Sheikh Fasil bin Qasim bin Faisal bin Thani Al Thani; and Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Thani al Thani.

The sources said the ruling Tehreek-i-Insaf Pakistan party used to criticise the federal government on the issue when it was in the opposition and did not allow houbara hunting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where it was in power in the province.