KARACHI, Aug 30: Pakistan’s fisheries and other officials concerned will meet on Monday (Sept 1) to review the repatriation arrangements for 343 Indian fishermen detained in Pakistan on charges of illegal fishing, it is learnt here.
A six-member Indian delegation had arrived here, in the last week of July, to seek the custody of the detained fishermen and make repatriation arrangements, including issuance of visas and repair of boats.
Though the officials did not comment on the slow process of repatriation, but it was reliably learnt that the process was delayed due to boat repair work and some “technical reasons.”
A fisheries official confirmed that a meeting of the concerned officials had been called here on Monday to finalize the repatriation arrangements.
As a gesture of goodwill, the Pakistan government has agreed to release all the 343 detained Indian fishermen along with their seized boats.
In the first phase, the government had announced the release of 269 detainees and their 25 boats, but later a decision was taken to also release the remaining 74 detainees with 18 boats.
On arriving here, the head of Indian delegation, Velgibhai Masani, welcomed the decision of government and called for urgent steps to expedite repatriation.
Reportedly, India is currently holding 74 Pakistani fishermen and a delegation is soon expected to visit the country to finalize their repatriation.
The coastal authorities of both the countries often detain erring fishermen from both countries on charges of illegal fishing.
The fishermen’s bodies have repeatedly urged that they should not be treated as criminals.
