https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/...-GN_26042017_270424/


Pakistan issues new rules for foreign hunters

Gulf News 26 APRIL, 2017


REUTERS/Charles Platiau

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2017

Islamabad: Pakistan has devised a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for all foreigners visiting the country to hunt animals.

The new directives were approved by the Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday.

All foreign guests and dignitaries are now required to share information regarding their travel details to the relevant authorities at least 72 hours before their arrival, according to Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will have to share information of the staff associated with foreign dignitaries a week before they arrive in Pakistan.

The new guidelines have been forwarded to all relevant ministries, Pakistan’s diplomatic missions abroad, foreign embassies in Pakistan and Pakistani foreign missions abroad, to clarify that no foreigner can enter Pakistan without obtaining a valid visa and completing the immigration procedure.
Foreigners without a visa or without completing immigration requirements could face legal action, which may lead up to arrest and trial.

The SOPs have also identified the landing points for international flights coming to Pakistan with delegates and their staff for hunting purposes. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Customs, and local administration would ensure specific landing strips the facilities of immigration, customs, security and other facilities.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan has also suspended granting visa under the guise of ‘landing permit’ and it is now mandatory for all foreigners to obtain visa for arrival in Pakistan.

The decision has been taken following visa irregularities and breach of security protocols of various hunting parties especially from the Middle East.

Earlier in January 2017, six Indian nationals, members of an advance team for a dignitary from a Gulf country, who was supposed to arrive for his hunting trip later, arrived at the Badin airbase (in Sindh) without security clearance and left for Thatta. This particular incident raised eyebrows in Pakistan.

Interior Minister took notice of the negligence of the Sindh government on rules for foreign guests coming to Pakistan for hunting and urged that all staff coming with royal family should follows the rules and arrive at bigger airports and not smaller airbases.

After such incidents, Interior Minister Nisar ordered the interior ministry, FIA and Civil Aviation to set up an effective system to avoid any breach of law.

Later, in February 2017, some members of Qatar’s ruling family visiting Tharparkar district of Sindh for falconry were denied permission to hunt endangered Houbara bustards by local wildlife department.

Although hunting is banned, the Pakistan government regularly issues special hunting permits to dignitaries from the Middle East, as part of Pakistan’s strong fraternal and diplomatic relations with Gulf countries.

Pakistan has been blessed with natural beauty and rare species such as the Markhor in Kohistan, the dolphins in the Indus River, Himalayan and Sind Ibex, the desert gazelle in Cholistan — most of which are threatened species.

By Sana Jamal Correspondent

Gulf News 2017. All rights reserved.

Tell them to take a flying leap, I'll just keep the 100K +.....

Looks to me like all they did was insist that all visiting hunters comply with the rules, and that there should be no special treatment to gulf neighbors. If I go to Pakistan, I need to get a visa and follow procedure. They just clarified procedure so diplomatic passport folks can't fly in to military airbases and hunt from there. Hardly a big deal from what I read here...

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
Looks to me like all they did was insist that all visiting hunters comply with the rules, and that there should be no special treatment to gulf neighbors. If I go to Pakistan, I need to get a visa and follow procedure. They just clarified procedure so diplomatic passport folks can't fly in to military airbases and hunt from there. Hardly a big deal from what I read here...

Trouble is you are dealing with one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Follow the money

All the more reason to be very careful and follow the rules.

Best to go as a guest with a well connected person or a well connected outfitter like Danish here on AR.

Connections in high places - family & political / government is most critical in such countries / societies.

You then get treated like a royal guest!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
Looks to me like all they did was insist that all visiting hunters comply with the rules, and that there should be no special treatment to gulf neighbors. If I go to Pakistan, I need to get a visa and follow procedure. They just clarified procedure so diplomatic passport folks can't fly in to military airbases and hunt from there. Hardly a big deal from what I read here...

Trouble is you are dealing with one of the most corrupt countries in the world.