QUETTA: The Balochistan government on Friday urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not to issue licences and permits for hunting in the province without its permission.

A meeting of the provincial cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri here also decided to fully implement the Balochistan Wildlife Act, 2014, to ensure the ban on illegal hunting for the protection of wildlife — especially the migratory houbara bustard — in the province.

It was observed that under the 18th Amendment it was the right of the provincial government to issue licences and permits for hunting.

The cabinet also decided to impose a ban on hunting in breeding sanctuaries of birds. Deputy commissioners would be responsible for stopping illegal hunting in their districts.

The meeting also discussed reservations of the provincial government on the agreement signed with the Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) regarding the Sui gas field. The energy secretary briefed the meeting about the agreement.

The chief minister constituted a committee under his chairmanship to deal with the issue. It was decided that the committee members would meet the PPL managing director and the Ministry of Petroleum’s director general for removing the reservations of the provincial government about the agreement. If needed the committee members would hold a meeting also with the prime minister.

The cabinet was briefed on an amendment to the local government act under Article 140-A of the Constitution.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2017