ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Embassy secured the release of 82 Pakistani prisoners in Bahrain on the occasion of Eidul Fitr under a Royal Pardon granted by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Tuesday.

Efforts to repatriate the released prisoners are underway and they will be reunited with their families soon, a communique issued by the FO said.

"The release of the large number of Pakistanis is the result of the efforts of Ambassador Javed Malik who personally visited the Pakistani inmates in May 2016 and took up the matter with the relevant authorities in Bahrain," FO Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said.

"Pakistan appreciates the cooperation rendered by Bahraini Authorities, particularly the interior minister of Bahrain," he said.