MUMBAI, June 22: The Union home ministry asked the Mumbai police on Tuesday to make arrangements at the Yellow Gate police station for Pakistan’s consulate officials to meet five Pakistanis who were rescued by the Indian Navy from Somali pirates.

The home ministry had earlier fixed Tihar jail as the place where the Pakistani officials were to meet the rescued men for identification. The five have been staying at the Yellow Gate police station since they were rescued in March.

Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt, chief patron of the NGO Harmony Foundation, has been making efforts for an early repatriation of the Pakistani nationals.

“I spoke to Minister of State for Home Gurudas Kamat about the delay in sending these boys back to their country. He immediately issued a letter instructing the Mumbai police to arrange consular access for them in the city.” Mr Bhatt said.