Islamabad, Nov 04: Giving a boost to peace initiatives, Pakistan and India today released 167 fishermen languishing in their prisons for allegedly violating their territorial waters. Seventy four Indian fishermen, along with 23 of their boats, were freed in Karachi while India simultaneously released 93 Pakistani fishermen held in prisons in Por Bandar in Gujarat, Pakistani officials said here.
The Indian fishermen were handed over to Indian naval attache in the Indian High Commission, Capt Ravidra Barutrahari Pandit, who flew into Karachi to receive them.
The Indian fishermen set sail in their boats along with an escort of the Pakistan Navy.
The fishermen of both the countries would be formally exchanged at a pre-designated point between Gujarat and Karachi coasts between the Indian Coast Guard and Pakistani naval officials.
This was the first batch of fishermen to have been released by the two countries after India recently proposed close co-ordination between their Coast Guards and liberalisation of stringent fishing norms for the fishermen, who often cross into the other country's waters due to lack of clear demarcations.

Bureau Report