LAHORE: A Punjab Wildlife squad on Sunday night caught 559 exotic birds at Lahore International Airport which were being illegally imported to Pakistan from the Netherlands.

District Wildlife Officer Javed Awan told Dawn that parakeets (different kinds of parrots) were being unlawfully imported to Pakistan. The consignment reached Lahore through Qatar Airlines. The birds were imported in 19 crates, he added.

Mr Awan said the department after charging a fine of Rs280,000 handed over the birds to importer Abdul Qadoos, a resident of Model Town (extension).

He said the birds were brought here for captive breeding. He said the raid conducted on a tip-off was the coordinated effort of the wildlife department and customs authorities.

He said the importer neither had any NOC from the wildlife department nor he informed the department about any such import.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2015

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