KARACHI: Pakistan released the first batch of 100 Indian fishermen as part of a goodwill gesture on Sunday.

The fishermen were released from a Karachi prison and they left for their home by train.

The Edhi Foundation made arrangements for their travelling from Karachi Cantonment Station and onwards to Wagah border.

The fishermen were brought to the station in police buses and Edhi ambulances amid tight security.

The Edhi Foundation gave a gift and money to each Indian fisherman to help them meet their travelling expenses to reach their homes from Wagah border.

The fishermen smiled and waved to the people at the railway station as their train left the platform.

An official of the Sindh home department said that during this month, Pakistan would release 260 more Indian fishermen.

He said these fishermen had been released after completion of legal formalities in compliance with their repatriation order issued by the the interior ministry.

Earlier, Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said at a weekly press briefing that Pakistan would release 360 Indian prisoners, 355 fishermen and five civilians, during the month of April.

The prisoners will be released in four batches, scheduled as 100 each on April 8, April 15 and April 29 while 60 prisoners, including five civilians, will be freed on April 29.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2019