Islamabad: As part of its confidence building measures (CBMs), Pakistan has decided to release nearly 300 Indian prisoners held in various jails in the country, official sources said on May 13.

The Indian government has been informed about Islamabad's decision to release 22 Sikhs and 14 crew members of Indian cargo vessel 'Raj Lakshmi' along with around 250 detained Indian fishermen, the sources said.

Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali had on May 6 said that Islamabad would release Indian prisoners as part of CBMs, which included reopening of rail, road and air links and restoration of diplomatic contacts.

The prisoners will be released after working out logistic arrangements with Indian officials, the sources said, adding most of them have already been visited by Indian officials in recent weeks after Pakistan provided counsellor access to them.

The 22 Sikhs languishing in Quetta and Lahore jails were arrested while they were crossing into Pakistan from Iran after they were left in the fray by middlemen, who promised to ferry them to Western countries.

The crew of 'Raj Lakshmi' was held after their vessel capsized in Pakistani waters.

PTI