Type: Parliament Questions and Answers

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that 229 Indian fishermen have been captured by Pakistan Authority;
(b) if so, the steps being taken by Government for release of such fishermen; and
(c) by when the scheme to pay assistance to such fishermen would be implemented as per Government of India scheme 2007?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) As per available records, there are 252 Indian fishermen in Pakistan’s jails.

(b) Government has been making persistent efforts for the release of Indian fishermen from Pakistan. The matter was taken up at the Foreign Secretary level talks in February 2010, June 2010 and June 2011; in the Home/Interior Secretary level talks in March 2011 and Foreign Minister level talks in July 2010 and July 2011. Home Minister also raised the issue during his visit to Islamabad in June 2010. As a result of Government’s efforts, Pakistan released 454 Indian fishermen in 2010. In 2011, as on date, Pakistan has released 103 Indian fishermen. An India-Pakistan Judicial Committee on Prisoners was formed on February 26, 2008 to make recommendations to the two Governments, which inter alia included immediate release of and consular access to fishermen, and exchange of a consolidated list of nationals in each other’s jails. The committee has met four times so far (February 2008, June 2008, August 2008 and April 2011).
High Commission of India, Islamabad, on a continuing basis, monitors the status of Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails and requests for consular access for these fishermen. Once consular access is granted by the Government of Pakistan, the verification papers are sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs through the Ministry of External Affairs for nationality status verification of these fishermen. High Commission of India, on a continuing basis, takes up the matter with the Government of Pakistan for the release of all those Indian fishermen who have completed their sentences.

(c) The Ministry of Agriculture, (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries) is the nodal agency for payment of compensation to the fishermen lodged in Pakistani jails and the scheme – “Soft Loan Package for Replacement of Fishing vessels held in captivity in Pakistan” which is being implemented by Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=220118027.

Pakistan
South Asia