Thursday, August 4 2005 18:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Pakistan has acknowledged presence of 182 civilian prisoners and does not acknowledge presence of any Indian Prisoner of War (PoW) in that country, the Rajya Sabha was informed today (August 4, 2005).

Minister of State for External Affairs, Rao Inderjit Singh, said in a written reply that according to available information, there were about 923 civilian prisoners, 371 fishermen and 54 PoW in Pakistani jails.

He said Pakistan granted consular access to Indian prisoners in January, February, June and July this year.

Singh said Indian prisoners in Pakistan were allowed to write and receive letters from their families in India.

The Minister said matters regarding Indian prisoners in Pakistan are consistently taken up with Pakistan Government through diplomatic channels and high-level contacts from time to time.