The Balochistan government has asked Islamabad not to issue permits for hunting in the province saying it is beyond the mandate of the federal government after the passage of the 18th Constitutional amendment.

The Balochistan cabinet on Friday evening directed all 34 deputy commissioners of the province not to allow anyone to hunt in their respective districts.

Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Sanaullah Zehri chaired the cabinet meeting, which endorsed the Balochistan Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation, and Management) Act 2014 and decided to implement it in letter and spirit.

Without mentioning the houbara bustard, the provincial cabinet also asked the Foreign Office not to issue licences to anyone for hunting in Balochistan.

This decision has come a few days after security forces detained four Qatari nationals near the Pak-Afghan border in Noshki district on charges of illegal hunting. Five locals were also charged with collaborating with the foreigners for illegal hunting in the area.

The cabinet decided that the reservations and apprehensions of elected representatives in connection with the issuance of licenses and permits for hunting in the province would be addressed in due time.