New Delhi: As a special gesture, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on August 8 directed that 13-year- old poor Pakistani boy Munir, who strayed across the border into Rajasthan in June, be released from jail and sent back home.

"Efforts are on to have him sent back to Pakistan by Tuesday," External Affairs Ministry spokesman told reporters.

An illiterate, Munir, who hails from Vatu in Bahawalpur in Pakistan, had strayed into Sri Ganganagar district in Rajasthan on June 26 and was immediately jailed. His father Bilal Mohammad sells kulfi in Lahore.

"The decision has been taken as a very special case and in view of Prime Minister's initiative to release Munir," he said.

Munir will come to Delhi where the Pakistan High Commission will be given Consular access.

The boy's plight had come to light close on the heels of the deep impact left by two-year old Pakistani girl Noor Fatima who underwent a heart surgery in Bangalore.

"People-to-people contact is a very important part of the step-by-step process" initiated by the Prime Minister, the spokesman said.

The decision on Munir was taken keeping in view the momentum generated by Prime Minister's initiative, he said.

Munir has been under detention for the past five weeks despite Indian authorities concluding that he had accidentally strayed.

PTI