ISLAMABAD, Jan 10: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has initiated an inquiry against custom officials allegedly involved in facilitating foreigners in exporting falcons.

Sources informed Dawn that the government had imposed a ban on export of falcons to avert extinction of this precious birds found in the country.

Last November, custom authorities had stopped some Arab sheikhs at Multan Airport from exporting 250 falcons worth millions of rupees in the international markets.

Investigations revealed that there was a major difference in the number of falcons brought into Pakistan and those carried back by these sheikhs.

In this particular case sheikhs claimed to have brought 250 falcons to Pakistan in a special plane for hunting purposes, while the investigations showed that the plane had capacity to bring in around 100 falcons.

It was observed that the custom officials did not record the exact number of falcons brought into Pakistan, so that they could tamper with the number of falcons being taken back, which increases, but cannot be caught due to the alleged connivance of the officials.

On their way back home the sheikhs buy birds from the local market which are added to the number of falcons brought into Pakistan in the first place with the alleged abetment of the custom officials.

It is a common practice with Arab Sheikhs that they bring in trained, but old falcons and set then free and replace them with younger falcons bought from the local traders. These falcon traders invest millions of rupees in this business.

According to the sources the government allowed only those people to export falcons and houbara bustards who have valid NOC.

Investigations also revealed that for sometime now, foreigners including Arab sheikhs were allegedly involved in export of falcons and houbara bustards to foreign countries especially to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on fake licenses.

Convention on International Trade of Indigenous Species (CITES) has asked all signatory countries including Pakistan, to strictly prohibit the trade of indigenous birds with the UAE.