The fishermen and their 17 fishing boats, which were in the custody of Pakistani authorities, were handed over in Karachi yesterday to T R Jatav, first secretary of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. The fishermen will repair their boats moored at the Karachi port before sailing to India on June 10 or 11, according to information made available here.

The fishermen were freed in return for the release of 12 Pakistani fishermen along with their two boats from Mumbai on May 18 on humanitarian grounds.

Indian officials are talking to Pakistani authorities about 11 other Indian fishermen who had drifted into Pakistani territory during the cyclone which hit the southern Sindh province of Pakistan last month. However, Pakistan has confirmed the presence of only two such Indian fishermen on their side.

India and Pakistan have agreed to theperiodical release of fishermen inadvertently violating territorial limits while fishing in the Arabian Sea so that they are not left to languish in either country's jails.

The exchange process began in July 1997 after the resumption of bilateral dialogue process in March that year. Both sides are also working on a permanent mechanism under which detained fishermen can be released without delay.

The mechanism was to be signed by the ministers of state for foreign affairs of both countries in April but was postponed due to the fall of the government in New Delhi. Efforts are being made to complete that formality ahead of the general elections in September.