ISLAMABAD: A special aircraft flew from Islamabad airport carrying a horse as a gift from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Emir of State of Qatar.
A C-130 plane transported the top breed horse along with a 13-member delegation of Pakistan government. The documents reveal that it was a special gift for the Qatari Emir from the Prime Minister.
Last year, media reports said the PM had gifted a bull and a cow to the Qatari Emir.
In November last year, the federal government issued a special permit to Qatari prince Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani to hunt internationally protected migratory bird houbara bustard in Punjab.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has close ties with Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries. Pakistan considers the Gulf nations as key regional allies.
Hunting of houbara bustard and such gifts like cattle and horse are used by the Pakistan for ‘soft diplomacy’ and under a ‘foreign policy requirement’ to maintain friendship with the allies and to win favours from the nations having considerable wealth. INP