Falcons to be released in Kallar Kahar

CHAKWAL, April 16: The Siberian falcons, recovered from a man on October 14 last year, will be given a warm send-off in Kallar Kahar on Monday, Dawn has learnt. Sources in the Punjab Wildlife Department said a ceremony in this regard would be held on Monday in the hilly town of Chakwal and preparations in this regard were being finalised. Sources said that the provincial agriculture minister Ahmad Ali would be the chief guest. Secretary forest department would also accompany the minister. "Yes we are planning to release the falcons in the forest of Kallar Kahar but the programme could be delayed for bad weather," A senior officer in wildlife department told Dawn on condition of anonymity. But the District Information Officer Abid Saleemi said that the ceremony would be held on Monday. He said that arrangements are being finalised in this regard. District wildlife officer Khalid Sahi spent whole day in Kallar Kahar of Saturday for the preparations of the ceremony. Fifty-three Siberian falcons were recovered from Syed Mazhar Ali Shah who was about to smuggle the birds to Doha (Qatar) from Benazir International Airport. On April 11 the Punjab Wildlife Department filed a petition with the District and Sessions Judge Rawalpindi seeking permission to free the falcons. In petition the department said that the Siberian migratory birds would not be able to survive in the hot summer in Pakistan. On April 12 the court allowed Wildlife Department to release the falcons.