57 Indian fishing boats released from Pak arrives at IMBL

Vadodara: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Gujarat Fisheries department officials on Sunday received the 57 Indian fishing boats at the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) that were released by Pakistan form its custody.

The seized boats were released yesterday from a port in Karachi as a goodwill gesture after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had made the announcement during his visit to Delhi in May last year.

"The boats arrived at the IMBL, 145 nautical miles from Porbandar port, at around 3:30 PM today. It is a historic moment as Pakistan has released boats after a gap of 11 years," Gujarat Fisheries and Water Resources Minister Babubhai Bokharia told PTI.

Earlier, an eight-member team from Gujarat, comprising leaders of fishermen community and an official of fisheries department reached Karachi on March 9 to complete modalities and undertake the repair works.

Assistant Director, state Fisheries department, and a member of the Indian delegation, Dr P C Malli, told PTI that Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) had maintained the boats in good condition and extended full cooperation for their repatriation.

Gujarat Fisheries Commissioner P L Darbar said two ships of ICG, carrying fisheries department officials and marine police staff, received the boats today.

PMSA had engaged 22 boats for towing the Indian boats from Karachi port to IMBL, he added.

Indian fishermen and boats are often apprehended by PMSA authorities when they violate Pakistan territorial waters.